St. Joseph Church is a 19th-century Roman Catholic and heritage church located in Catubig, Northern Samar, Philippines. It is one of the earliest churches founded by Jesuit missionaries in Samar in late 16th century.
Table of Contents
History
Jesuit missionaries Fr. Miguel Gomez and Brother Juan Ontiñeda from their Tinago (Dapdap of Tarangnan) residencia visited and began a mission in Catubig in 1596. However, it was closed due to lack of missionaries. It was revitalized with the arrival of Fr. Juan de Sanlucar in 1601 and Fr. Juan de Torres in 1603. It became a mission center in 1605.
In 1616, the mission was transferred to Palapag. A church made of wood and nipa roof was burned at the height of the local revolt led by Agustin Sumoroy in 1649.
After the Jesuits were expelled in 1768, the church was placed under the care of the Franciscans. The settlement was formerly called Canipaan because of the abundance of nipa grass. In 1775, its pueblo was moved to the present site due to the Moro raiders plaguing the seas, plundering villages, and killing people.
Its church became a visita of Palapag in 1777 and of Laoang in 1784. A permanent priest, Fr. Juan de Plasencia, was assigned beginning in 1790. Fr. Plasencia initiated the construction of a church made of humble material. It was during the term of Fr. Jose Mata that a stone church was built in 1805, but it was destroyed by a typhoon. A provisional place of worship was erected by Fr. Agaton Martinez in 1838.
The present-day church was constructed within the tenure of Fr. Vicente Zamora in 1888. In 1892, Fr. Antonio Ibañez added a belfry. He also built the convent three years later.
In 2021, the provincial government of Northern Samar installed a historical marker.
Architecture
The facade is made of colonial-era masonry. Its arch entryway is flanked by pilasters crowned with pyramid capital and a finial; the facade itself is framed by stout pillars on either side. Three niches are found in its upper register, while the pediment rises to a belfry and a cross.
Celebration
The feast day of St. Joseph is July 19.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of St. Joseph Church in Catubig, Northern Samar 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 Catubig.
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
- No mass schedule found.
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | St. Joseph Church in Catubig, Northern Samar |
| Address | Catubig, Northern Samar 6418 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1597 |
| Age | 428 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palo |
| Diocese | Diocese of Catarman |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of St. Michael the Archangel |
| Patron | St. Joseph |
| Feast day | July 19 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage | Heritage church |
| Completed | 1888 |
| Age since completed | 137 years |
| Belfry | 1 |
Nearby Churches
- Holy Family Mission Center in Hibubullao, Catubig, Northern Samar
- Our Lady of the Angels Church in Mapanas, Northern Samar
- Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Palapag, Northern Samar
- Our Lady of the Nativity Church in Las Navas, Northern Samar
- Saint Roque the Healer Church in San Roque, Northern Samar
- St. Bonaventure Church in Lapinig, Northern Samar
- St. Isidore the Farmer Mission Center in Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar
- St. John the Baptist Church in Pambujan, Northern Samar
- St. Michael the Archangel Church in Gamay, Northern Samar
- St. Michael the Archangel Church in Laoang, Northern Samar
References
- Carl Sanchez Bordeos. Historical marker unveiled at N. Samar church. CBCP News. April 17, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2024
- Horacio de la Costa, S.J. The Jesuits in the Philippines 1581 – 1768. Harvard University Press. 1961. Retrieved May 30, 2024