Diocesan Marian Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary is a Roman Catholic church located in Ubanon-Boao, Catbalogan City, Samar, Philippines.
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History
Ubanon was at the forefront of the defenses of Catbalogan against the Moro pirates who infested the waters and attacked villages during colonial times. These attacks were vicious that result to the looting of precious belongings, killing and capturing of people to be sold off as slaves, and burning of structures to ashes. The hillock was crowned with forts and canons were installed. Over time, it was called La Loma de Ubanon after the Ubanon Hill that faced the sea.
By the 17th century, it became the enclave for the Chinese community. In the next hundred years, it became the focal point of the production of ammunition.
The church in Ubanon was founded in the 19th century and it was dedicated to the invocation of Nuestra Señora del Santissimo del Rosario. The early church was called a capilla located outside of Catbalogan in the Catholic cemetery. By the 1960s, the construction of the new church was underway.
On October 2, 1994, Bishop Emeritus of Calbayog Msgr. Maximiano T. Cruz with Excellency Most Rev. Pedro R. Dean, D.D. of the Archdiocese of Palo, declared the church as a diocesan shrine.
On February 11, 2009, the capilla was canonically erected as a parish by Most Reverend Isabelo C. Abarquez who also installed Fr. Niceas A. Abejuela as the first parish priest.
Devotion to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary
The Marian devotion was started as a personal commitment of Antonia Borja Tuazon and it was first noted by the Franciscan friar Felix de Huerta, OFM. Over time, a cofradia was founded that advocates and promotes the spread of its devotion.
The patroness is five feet tall standing on a crescent moon on a globe and he is carrying the Holy Infant in Her arms, and Her feet are crushing the serpent. The image was created by a Chinese artisan and believed to be miraculous by many people. In 1960, it was given episcopal coronation by Bishop Julio Cardinal Rosales.
In 1994, Bishop Maximiano T. Cruz sent a petition to the Vatican for the image to be given pontifical coronation in time for the 400 years of Christianity in the island of Samar. The petition was granted by Pople John Paul II in his Apostolic Letter entitled Sacra Illa.
The bishop met with Pope John Paul II in the latter’s visit to the Philippines in January 1995 and the crown was blessed. On October 15, 1995, the Blessed Virgin Mary was granted canonical coronation at St. Bartholomew Parish in Calbayog City by His Excellency Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Archbishop of Cebu.
Celebration
The feast day of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary is October 15.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of Diocesan Marian Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in Ubanon-Boao, Catbalogan City, 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 Catbalogan City.
Monday
- No mass schedule found.
Tuesday
- No mass schedule found.
Wednesday
- No mass schedule found.
Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
- No mass schedule found.
Sunday
- No mass schedule found.
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Diocesan Marian Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in Ubanon-Boao, Catbalogan City, Samar |
| Address | Ubanon-Boao, Catbalogan City, Samar 6700 |
| Country | Philippines |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Status | Diocesan Shrine, Parish |
| Declared as parish | February 11, 2009 |
| Age as parish | 16 years |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palo |
| Diocese | Diocese of Calbayog |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of St. Frances de Sales |
| Patron | Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary |
| Feast day | October 15 |
Nearby Churches
- Holy Infant Church in San Jose de Buan, Samar
- Immaculate Conception Church in Motiong, Samar
- St. Bartholomew Church in Catbalogan City, Samar
- St. Francis of Assisi Church in Silanga, Catbalogan City, Samar
- St. Francis of Assisi Mission Center in Calapi, Motiong, Samar
- St. Paschal Baylon Church in Jiabong, Samar
References
- Diocesan Marian Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Ubanon-Boao. October 15, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2024