St. Anne Parish Church is a Roman Catholic Church located in Molo, Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines. It is more popularly known as Molo Church and a feminist Church whose interior is filled with 16 all-female saints.
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History
Before the Spanish conquest, Molo was a flourishing trading post and Chinese traders anchored their ships loaded with merchandise in a harbor nearby.
In the 16th century, it became a suburb that was part of La Villa de Arevalo (whose church is Most Holy Name Church). Governor General Juan de Vargas issued a decree on July 17, 1679 that organized the area into a settlement called Parian, an enclave for Chinese migrants, with an aim for better policing to prevent uprising and more efficient tax collection.
It was an independent town in 1818. However, together with La Paz, Madurriao, Molo, and Jaro, it was absorbed into then the municipality of Iloilo through Act No. 719 passed on April 4, 1903.
The Church of St. Anne is erected in front of the town plaza. It is famous for being a feminist Church whose nave has the images of female saints: Apolonia, Clara, Cecilia, Felicia, Isabel of Hungary, Ines, Juliana, Lucia, Marcela, Maria Magdalena, Monica, Margarita, Marta, Rosa Lima, and Teresita.
Established by Fr. Pablo Montaño in 1831, the first Church of St. Anne in Molo was made of tabique pampango and its roof of baked clay tiles. Built by secular priest Fr. Locsin, it was one of a number of churches in Iloilo not constructed by the friars of the Order of St. Augustine. Fr. Jose Ma. Sichon replaced it with a temporary structure roofed with nipa mat in 1863, which suggests that the old church was in a state of disrepair.
Plans for a stone church were drawn in 1866 and was approved by Bishop Mariano Cuartero three years later. It became a refuge at the outbreak of the Second World War. Damages from the war were repaired under the leadership of Fr. Manuel Alba with the help of the lay faithful in post-war years.
Heritage
Molo Church is a National Historical Landmark by virtue of Resolution 4 in 1993. The National Historical Institute installed a marker in 1992. Additionally, it is also one of the colonial structures in Jolo that was declared a cultural heritage church by virtue of Republic Act No. 10555 that was approved on May 15, 2013.
Architecture
St. Anne Church is a Neo-Gothic Renaissance church. When Jose Rizal saw it on August 4, 1896, he exclaimed, “La iglesia bonita”. That is, a beautiful church. Gothic elements are found in the facade in lancet windows of the belfries, crockets in the sloping edges of the gable, finials, the moldings along the splayed underside of apertures, and tracery.
The facade is hemmed by the bell towers and its horizontal sweep is marked by two cornices. Rose windows and arch openings have beautiful tracery, and the arches are decorated with mullions. The entrance is through an arch portal bordered by twin embedded Ionic columns. Above are a stained glass window of Blessed Mother that permits light to the choir loft and a blind rose window with a low relief of Sacred Heart of Jesus. They are framed by twin pilasters made of two levels: a plain one with sculpted capital and fluted Corinthian pier. And on top in the pediment bears a niche of a holy figure. The bell towers are supported by stout pillars. On the second floor, their four corners are chamfered and decorated by twin pilasters. They give way to octagonal belfries whose faces are pierced alternately with round and lancet windows, and that are crowned with dramatic pyramidal roof and spire.
The church is shaped into a cross. Its interior has three naves, and along the central main nave the ceiling is a barrel vault with indentations letting in light from the clerestory of round openings (these can be found in the transepts too). It is supported by two colonnades of Corinthian pillars that bear sixteen statues of female saints. Two wooden pulpits are found in front of the sanctuary.
Over its crossing is a big dome and cupola, and the four evangelists are painted on each pendentive. The apse has a dome vault which is painted with a depiction of the Holy Trinity. On either side walls of the apse are murals by Mariano Mabunay and Jesue Huervas portraying the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Christ.
Celebration
The feast day is scheduled every July 26.
Services
Confession is every after mass.
Schedule of devotion is as follows: Divine Mercy Chaplet (Every Sunday afternoon before 3:00 PM mass), Immaculate Heart of Mary (Saturday morning), Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (First Friday of the month), Our Mother of Perpetual Help (Every Wednesday).
The parish office is open 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon and from 2:30 to 5:00 PM from Tuesday to Saturday. On Sunday, it is open 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon only.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of St. Anne Parish Church in Molo, Iloilo City 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 Iloilo City.
Monday
- 5:30-6:30 AM (Hiligaynon)
- 5:30-6:30 PM (English)
Tuesday
- 5:30-6:30 AM (Hiligaynon)
- 5:30-6:30 PM (English)
Wednesday
- 5:30-6:30 AM (Hiligaynon)
- 5:30-6:30 PM (English)
Thursday
- 5:30-6:30 AM (Hiligaynon)
- 5:30-6:30 PM (English)
Friday
- 5:30-6:30 AM (Hiligaynon)
- 5:30-6:30 PM (English)
Saturday
- 5:30-AM (Hiligaynon)
- 5:00-6:00PM (Hiligaynon - Anticipated Mass - Facebook Live)
Sunday
- 5:00-6:00 AM (Hiligaynon)
- 6:30-7:30 AM (Hiligaynon)
- 8:00-9:00 AM (English)
- 10:00-11:00 AM (English)
- 3:00-4:00 PM (English)
- 5:00-6:00 PM (Hiligaynon)
- 7:00-8:00 PM (English)
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | St. Anne Parish Church in Molo, Iloilo City |
| Other Names | Molo Church |
| Address | Jocson Street, Molo, Iloilo City, 5000 Iloilo |
| Country | Philippines |
| Contact | (033)-337 2258 |
| santaana.parishmolo@gmail.com | |
| www.facebook.com | |
| YouTube | www.youtube.com |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Founder | Fr. Pablo Montaño |
| Established | 1831 |
| Age | 194 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of St. Paul |
| Patron | St. Anne |
| Feast day | July 26 |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 19th century |
| Style | Neo-Gothic Renaissance |
Nearby Churches
- Immaculate Conception Church in Tanza, Iloilo City
- Most Holy Name of Jesus Church in Arevalo, Iloilo City
- Our Lady of Fatima Church in Lapuz, La Paz, Iloilo City
- Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church in Calumpang, Molo, Iloilo City
- San Jose Obrero Church in Fundidor, Molo, Iloilo City
- San Jose Placer Church in Iloilo City, Iloilo
- Santa Maria Church in Iloilo City
- Sta. Teresita del Niño Church in Iloilo City
- The Assumption of Our Lady Church in Bo Obrero, Iloilo City
References
- Simbahan ng Molo. National Historical Commission of the Philippines. October 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2022
- Salvador, Jingoy I. Salvador: Molo Church in Iloilo. SunStar. September 27, 2019. Retrieved October 23, 2022
- Republic Act No. 10555. Official Gazette. Retrieved October 23, 2022
- Salas, Vic. [Ilonggo Notes] The old town of Molo: A secure place in history. Rappler. September 13, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2022
- Molo. Panublion. Ateneo de Manila University. Retrieved from original post October 23, 2022
- Act No. 719, April 04, 1903. Supreme Court of the Philippines E-Library. Retrieved October 24, 2022
- Salvilla, Rex S. Molo: The Athens of the Philippines. The News Today. July 26, 2007. Retrieved October 24, 2022
- Salvilla, Rex S. Molo Church: Her Story. The News Today. June 24, 2007. Retrieved October 24, 2022