San Nicolas de Tolentino Church is a Roman Catholic Church in the town of Cabatuan in Iloilo, Philippines. It is also called Cabatuan Church. Its patron saint is St. Nicholas of Tolentino.
Table of Contents
History
Cabatuan was founded as an independent parish in 1732. Its first parish priest was Fr. Antonio Lopez and one of the Augustinian friars who were assigned there was Fr. Domingo de la Conception who served in 1739.
It is believed that there was a church or more built in earlier years. The stone church that stands today was constructed in 1834. Fr. Ramon Alquizar was credited to have initiated its construction, and it was completed in 1866.
During the Second World War, the convent was destroyed by the Philippine revolutionaries. It was leveled to the ground by the invading Japanese forces, its bricks utilized in the making of the Tiring Landing Field. The church sustained damages in an earthquake that struck the island of Panay in 1948. A few of its belfries were destroyed in that earthquake.
Architecture
San Nicolas de Tolentino Church in Cabatuan is quite unique as three of its church walls are considered facades. It also had six belfries; however four of them were destroyed in the 1948 earthquake. Made of red brick exterior, it is a Neoclassical church.
Its primary facade is a pale church wall bounded by two huge bell towers made of red bricks. The facade is filled with Augustinian symbols. Horizontal cornices divide the horizontal lay-out: two levels and a pediment. By its main entrance, an arch portal, are Tuscan attached columns. It is flanked by niches of holy figures, Jesus in the gospel side and Mary in the epistle side. In the upper level are rectilinear and round apertures and the niche of the patron. Pilasters decorate the rest of the facade that culminate in finials on the roof; the finials frame a pediment that is bare and plain.
The bell towers four-bodied structures; the first two levels have rectilinear openings while the third one has chamfered edges and rose window. It is crowned by finials, dome, cupola, and a cross.
The shape of the church is cruciform. The nave walls are pierced by archways and rose windows in the clerestory. The ceiling is bare with rafters and joists. A pair of wooden pulpits with golden bases can be found by the transepts.
Celebration
The feast of St. Nicholas of Tolentino is held every September 10, and it is referred to as Tinuom Festival.
Services
The parish office is open from 8:00 to 11:30 in the morning and from 2:00 to 4:30 in the afternoon from Tuesday to Saturdays. On Sundays, it is only open from 9:00 to 11:00 in the morning. It is closed every Monday. .
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of San Nicolas de Tolentino Church in Cabatuan, 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 Cabatuan.
Monday
- 5:45-6:45 AM
Tuesday
- 5:45-6:45 AM
Wednesday
- 5:45-6:45 AM
Thursday
- 5:45-6:45 AM
Friday
- 5:45-6:45 AM
Saturday
- 5:45-6:45 AM
- 4:30-5:30 PM
Sunday
- 5:00-6:00 AM
- 7:30-8:30 AM
- 9:00-10:00 AM
- 4:30-5:30 PM
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | San Nicolas de Tolentino Church in Cabatuan, Iloilo |
| Other Names | Cabatuan Church |
| Address | PC Barracks Rd, Zone IX Pob. (Brgy 9), Cabatuan, 5033 Iloilo |
| Country | Philippines |
| Contact | (033) 503 5007 |
| rcparishcabatuan091@gmail.com | |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1732 |
| Age | 293 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of St. Thomas |
| Patron | St. Nicholas of Tolentino |
| Feast day | September 10 |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1866 |
| Age since completed | 159 years |
| Builder | Fr. Ramon Alquizar |
| Style | Neoclassical |
Nearby Churches
- Our Lady of Candles Church in Jelicuon, Cabatuan, Iloilo
- Our Lady of Fatima Church in Buyo, Santa Barbara, Iloilo
- Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Church in New Lucena, Iloilo
- Santa Barbara Church in Santa Barbara, Iloilo
- St. James the Greater Church in Maasin, Iloilo
- St. Martin de Porres Church in Layog, Maasin, Iloilo
References
- 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 November 7, 2022
- Our History. Municipal Government of Cabatuan. Retrieved November 8, 2022
- Cabatuan Church. Explore Iloilo. March 8, 2007. Retrieved November 8, 2022
- THE HISTORY OF THE STRUCTURE OF SAN NICOLAS DE TOLENTINO PARISH CHURCH. Parish of San Nicolas de Tolentino of Cabatuan, Iloilo. September 2, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2022