Sta. Rita de Cascia Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Anilao, Iloilo, Philippines.
Table of Contents
History
Its church was a visita of Dumangas as early as 1714 with St. Thomas of Villanueva as patron saint. It became a town in 1734. It was also the same year that the parish was founded and it was placed under the advocation of St. Rita of Cascia.
However, it was reduced to a village belonging to Pototan only to be separated again the following year. In 1760, it was part of Dumangas and then it seceded after two years. It lost its independence yet again after a devastating Moro pirate attack in subsequent years that it was absorbed into Barotac Nuevo.
In 1843, it was annexed to Banate when the latter was made into a parish. Then finally in April 1850, Anilao was elevated into a parish through a decree issued by General Antonio Blanco. Ministers from the curacy of Banate continued to provide religious services to its folks, until Fr. Alejandro Martinez was assigned in 1876.
A colonial-era church made of humble materials did not survive in contemporary times.
Architecture
The image of the patroness is enshrined in the gable of the portico, which is supported by columns on tiled plinths. The same tiles can be found in the foundation of the church’s facade. Its front wall is pierced by round and pointed arch windows, while the pediment is composed of geometrically cut glass panes arranged. A bell tower is erected in the epistle side.
Celebration
The feast day of Sta. Rita of Cascia is May 22.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of Sta. Rita de Cascia Church in Anilao, Iloilo from June 9, 2025 to June 15, 2025. Please reach out to the church for an updated schedule. Additionally, you may also want to view mass schedules of churches in Anilao.
Monday
- No mass schedule found.
Tuesday
- No mass schedule found.
Wednesday
- No mass schedule found.
Thursday
- No mass schedule found.
Friday
- No mass schedule found.
Saturday
- No mass schedule found.
Sunday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 8:00-9:00 AM
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sta. Rita de Cascia Church in Anilao, Iloilo |
| Address | Anilao, Iloilo 5009 |
| Country | Philippines |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Established | 1714 |
| Age | 311 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Declared as parish | 1734 |
| Age as parish | 291 years |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of St. Jude Thaddeus |
| Patron | St. Rita of Cascia |
| Feast day | May 22 |
| Architecture | |
| Tower | 1 |
Nearby Churches
- Saint Augustine Church in Dumangas, Iloilo
- San Antonio de Padua Church in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo
- St. Isidore the Farmer Church in PD Monfort North, Dumangas, Iloilo
- St. John the Baptist Church in Banate, Iloilo
- St. Raphael the Archangel Church in San Rafael, Iloilo
- Sts. Peter and Paul the Apostle Church in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo
References
- Vicariate and Parishes. Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro. Retrieved December 12, 2023
- PARISH FIESTA SERIES no. 24. Jaro Archdiocesan Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education – ACCCE. May 22, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2023
- Paul Dumol, PhD, Grace Concepcion, PhD, and E.J. Ofilada (August 15, 2020). Research Update: Foundation Dates for “The Pueblos of Panay”. Center for Research and Communication. Retrieved December 12, 2023