Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi is also known as Naga Church, formerly St. Francis of Asisi Parish or San Francisco de Asis Parish. It is located in heart of the city of Naga, Cebu, Philippines along N. Bacalso Avenue, over twenty kilometers south of Cebu City.
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History
Naga, a name derived from the local name of the narra tree, was an established settlement in pre-Spanish era populated by folks lured by a promise of gainful employment in fishing, mining, pottery, and tanning.
The church was part of San Nicolas, as were others in Cebu like Talisay Church, Minglanilla Church, and Pardo Church during Spanish colonial times. It was declared a separate parish on June 12, 1829.
Fr. Simon Aguirre oversaw the construction of the church from the design drawn up by Bishop Santos Gomez Marañon between 1839 and 1850.
The parish was elevated to an archdiocesan shrine on October 3, 2007.
Architecture
The bell tower is contemporary: slender, five-story pyramid of open arches except on the first floor decorated with ornate metalwork painted in white coat. It juts a few meters beside the church in the epistle side.
The facade is typified by several columns of pilasters supporting an intricately ornamented pediment. The pediment is painted in pastel accentuated with white, and decorated with cherub-like figures, stars, a tableau of a madonna, and other symbols. Above the entrance is a relief that depicts the first Eucharistic celebration in Cebu along with the year “1521” and a Latin script that reads “Praedicate Evangelium Omni Creaturae”, which translates to “spread the Gospel to all of Creation.” Twin towers, one on either side of the facade, have red roof.
Celebration
The feast of St. Francis of Asisi is held in the 10th of October every year. On the other hand, the city holds the Dagitab Festival around Christmastime annually starting in 2008.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi in Naga, Cebu from May 12, 2025 to May 18, 2025. Please reach out to the church for an updated schedule. Additionally, you may also want to view mass schedules of churches in Naga City.
Monday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano - FB Live)
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM (Cebuano)
Tuesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano - FB Live)
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM (Cebuano)
Wednesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano - FB Live)
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM (Cebuano)
Thursday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano - FB Live)
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM (Cebuano)
Friday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano - FB Live)
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM (Cebuano)
Saturday
- 6:00-07:00 AM (Cebuano - FB Live)
- 4:00 PM - 05:00 PM (Cebuano - Anticipated mass)
- 5:30 PM - 06:30 PM (Cebuano - Anticipated mass)
Sunday
- 5:30-6:30 AM (Cebuano)
- 8:00-9:00 AM (Cebuano - FB Live)
- 10:30-11:30 AM (Cebuano)
- 4:00-5:00 PM (Cebuano)
- 5:30-6:30 PM (Cebuano)
- 7:00-8:00 PM (English)
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi in Naga, Cebu |
| Other Names | Naga Church, St. Francis of Asisi Parish, San Francisco de Asis Parish |
| Address | N Bacalso Avenue, East Poblacion, City of Naga, Cebu 6037 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Contact | (032) 272 7271 |
| nagaparish@gmail.com | |
| web.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | June 12, 1829 |
| Age | 196 years |
| Status | Archdiocesan shrine |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu |
| District | District II - Metro Cebu South |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of the Immaculate Heart of Mary |
| Patron | St. Francis of Asisi |
| Feast day | October 10 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage | Sacred Treasures of Archdiocese of Cebu |
| Completed | 1850 |
| Age since completed | 175 years |
| Architect | Bishop Santos Gomez Marañon |
Nearby Churches
- Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus Nazareno in Cansojong, Talisay City
- Archdiocesan Shrine of Mother Thrice Admirable Queen and Vicaress of Schoenstatt in Lawaan III, Talisay City
- Archdiocesan Shrine of Sta. Teresa de Avila in Talisay City, Cebu
- Archdiocesan Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Minglanilla, Cebu
- Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish Church in Inayagan, City of Naga, Cebu
- Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish Church in Jaclupan, Talisay City
- Parroquia de Virgen de los Remedios Church in Guindarohan, Minglanilla, Cebu
- San Isidro Labrador Church in Talisay, Cebu
- San Juan Bautista Church in Cebu City
- San Roque Parish Church in Lipata, Minglanilla, Cebu
- San Roque Parish Church in Naga, Cebu
- Shrine of St. John Bosco in Lawaan III, Talisay City, Cebu
- St. Augustine de Hippo Parish Church in Langtad, City of Naga, Cebu
- St. Joseph the Worker Church in Talisay, Cebu
- Sto. Niño Church in Talisay, Cebu
References
- Pepito, Charles R. (September 30, 2017). City of Naga, Cebu marks 10 years. BusinessMirror. Retrieved June 3, 2022
- Newman, Jenara Regis (November 23, 2021). An introduction: Museo Naga. Yahoo. Retrieved June 3, 2022
- Balaanong Bahandi: Sacred Treasures of the Archdiocese of Cebu. Cathedral Museum of Cebu, Inc. and University of San Carlos Press. 2010. ISBN 978-9715390187.
- League finally recognizes 16 ‘unqualified’ cities. Rappler. July 19, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2022
- Abatayo, Rosalie O. (October 1, 2018). A prayerful, somber fiesta for Naga City. Cebu Daily News. Retrieved June 3, 2022
- Catado, Mary Claire U. (December 27, 2015). Naga’s Dagitab Festival shines brighter this year. Cebu Daily News. Retrieved June 3, 2022
- Taguchi, Yasunari Ramon Suarez (April 14, 2019). The Churches of Cebu South. The Freeman. Retrieved June 3, 2022
- Archdiocese of Cebu. Retrieved June 12, 2022
- The Ati of Naga: Fighting to keep culture alive. The Freeman. April 6, 2013. Retrieved July 7, 2022
- HISTORICAL BACKGROUND. City Government of Naga. Retrieved July 18, 2022
- Elizaga, Troy. The Formation of Towns and Parishes in Cebu, Philippines. Retrieved via Academia on July 20, 2022