Assumption of Our Lady Parish Church is a Marian and heritage, colonial-era church located in the town of Tanauan, Leyte, Philippines. It is also referred to as Tanauan Church.
Table of Contents
History
The Jesuits built a church in Tanauan in 1704. Then the Augustinians came to replace them by 1768 and they stayed until 1843 when the Franciscans took over.
The church was improved during the tenure of Fr. Francisco de Paula Marquez between 1850 and 1860, adding the transepts and outside fortifications as defense against seaborne pirates. Its Stations of the Cross are reported to have been imported from Mexico.
The church survived the devastating tidal waves in 1897 and the destructive Typhoon Yolanda on November 8, 2013. As it was one of the few remaining edifices that remained standing after Typhoon Yolanda hit, it became an evacuation center for the townspeople.
Heritage
The Philippines Historical Committee installed a Level II historical marker in 1949.
Architecture
The church has been reconstructed through the years that its present appearance looks contemporary. Its facade is framed by linear concrete borders that are stepped in form.
This stepped form is reflected too in the archivolt of the arched doorway though its tympanum is a blind semicircle. It is flanked by recessed doors within an arch.
The heritage marker is installed by the epistle flank.
A concrete band rises from the ground to the pediment, forming a low triangle and on which a cross is fitted. The pediment has a round opening bearing multi-lobed tracery.
The bell tower stands in the gospel side. It is quadrangular and equal in dimension in all of its four levels and pierced with arches. It is crowned with a red dome, a lantern, and a cross.
Celebration
The feast of the Assumption of Our Lady is on August 15. Interestingly its town fiesta is reckoned from the year 1910. For instance, its 2022 celebration was referred to as its 113th annual fiesta.
Services
The parish office is open from 9:00 in the morning to 12:00 noon and from 2:00 to 5:00 in the afternoon.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of Assumption of Our Lady Parish Church in Tanauan, Leyte 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 Tanauan.
Monday
- 5:00-6:00 PM
Tuesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM
Wednesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM
Thursday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM
Friday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM
Saturday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM (Anticipated Mass)
Sunday
- 5:00-6:00 AM (Waray-waray)
- 7:00-8:00 AM (Waray-waray)
- 9:00-10:00 AM (English)
- 5:00-6:00 PM (English)
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Assumption of Our Lady Parish Church in Tanauan, Leyte |
| Address | Brgy. Buntay, Asuncion Street, Tanauan, Leyte 6502 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Contact | 0995 404 9155 |
| assumptionofourladyparish@gmail.com | |
| web.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Founder | Society of Jesus |
| Established | 1704 |
| Age | 321 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palo |
| District | Eastern District |
| Vicariate | Palo Vicariate |
| Patron | Our Lady of the Assumption |
| Feast day | August 15 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage | Heritage Church (1949) |
| Belfry | 1 |
| Tower | 1 |
Nearby Churches
References
- Church of Tanauan, Leyte. National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Retrieved December 27, 2022
- Assumption of Our Lady Parish. Archdiocese of Palo. Retrieved December 27, 2022
- Vino R. Cuayzon. Photo guide on Visita Iglesia in Tacloban and Leyte. Philippine Information Agency. March 20, 2008. Retrieved December 27, 2022
- Vicariate of Palo. Archdiocese of Palo. Retrieved from original post on December 27, 2022
- The tidal waves of Tanauan, Leyte. Rappler. February 23, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2022
- Raphael Lotilla. Flashback: 1897, Leyte and a strong typhoon. Rappler. November 20, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2022