St. Jerome Parish Church (Morong, Rizal)

Morong Church
St. Jerome Parish Church

The Belltower
14°31′23″N 121°16′02″E / 14.5231°N 121.2673°E / 14.5231; 121.2673
Location Morong, Rizal
Country Philippines
Architecture
Style Baroque
Groundbreaking 1615
Completed 1620
Administration
Parish St. Jerome Parish
Diocese Diocese of Antipolo

St. Jerome Parish Church (also known as Morong Church) is a Roman Catholic church located in Morong, Rizal, Philippines. It was built under forced labor during the Spanish colonization in the country, where men, women, and even children had to dig stones from a hill called Kay Ngaya; lime from the stones of the mountain Kay Maputi; and sand and gravel from Morong River.[1]

History

The town of Morong traces its origins to the pioneering work of the Franciscans Juan de Plasencia and Diego de Oropesa. Both were responsible for starting most of the lake town mission in 1578. They constructed chapels (visitas) attached to a bigger settlement to allow religious and civil administration. Later, this settlement was converted into Pueblo de Morong and was made the provincial capital of the Franciscan Order at that time. Baras, Tanay, Pililia, Cardona, Binangonan and Teresa were the visitas under Pueblo de Morong.[1]

Fr. Plasencia was well known for his mastery of Tagalog and is credited with compiling a dictionary of the vernacular and writing a draft of a catechism which is later used for composing the Doctrina Christiana (1593), the first book printed in the Philippines.[2]

It was not until 1586, that Morong had a friar named Fr. Blas de la Madre de Dios assigned as first minister of the pueblo. He constructed a wooden church on the south bank of the river but was burned down together with a large part of the pueblo in 1612. After three years, a new church was built of stone and mortar on elevated ground at the opposite bank of Morong River which ensured the its safety from floods and fires. It measured 42 varas long by 12 varas wide, had a single nave with semi-circular apse, built under the direction of Chinese master craftsmen.[1] The church, dedicated to St. Jerome, was completed in 1620. The church had remained substantially unchanged until 1850-53, when Fr. Maximo Rico commissioned Bartolome Palatino, a native of Paete, to renovate the facade and build a bell tower.

The new Baroque facade with a towering height of 20 varas was completed on February 2, 1853, almost three years after its construction.[1]

The Order of the Franciscan Missionaries were first assigned in the church of Morong. As a proof, the Franciscan coat or arms is seen on the main facade of the bell tower, the hands of Jesus and St. Francis of Assisi. Next were Columban Missionaries.

Significance of the Church during Filipino-Spanish War

After the Cry of Pugadlawin on August 23, 1896, a civil guard stationed in Binangonan named Agustin Natividad escaped from his post and passed the mountain trails to reach Morong. He organized a camp with other Filipino civil guards and attacked Morong. The Spanish casadores and other loyal civil guards retreated to the Gobierno Politico-Militar building while the Katipuneros under Natividad sought refuge in Capitan Mariano's rice camarin. Due to lack of food and arms, they left with their families and attacked Morong Church and forced the enemies to retreat inside the convent and church.[1]

On June 1, 1898, fully armed soldiers from Cavite and a shipment of rifles and a canon arrived to aid the Katipuneros who came from the different points of Distrito de Morong. The three principal revolutionary leaders at that time were Brigade Commander Miguel Aquino, Assessor Juan Sumulong and Quintin Gonzales. Firing went on as the Spaniards took their stand in the church and convent.[1]

The Spaniards besieged in the church and convent surrendered to the Katipuneros on August 19, 1898.[1]

Architecture

One of the lion sculptures at the side of the church. Note the locked chains

The Morong facade and bell tower is easily the most striking of all church facades along Laguna de Bay. Frequently photographed and described as baroque, the facade/bell tower is more properly described as Baroque Revival architecture. The central portion of the facade surges outward and the catenated balustrade above give the whole a dynamic felling. Various decorative elements, some Mexican in origin, give the facade a richness characteristic of Baroque. Four angels, representing the cardinal virtues, stand at the corners of the bell tower. Fr. Felix Huerta, writing in 1852, states that the facade had finials shaped as jars and shells used for illuminating it.

It is said that it was built by Chinese craftsmen as evidence: two Chinese lion sculptures ( a boy and a girl lion ) at the entrance to the steep driveway. One lion, said to be the girl lion, was stolen between 2000 and 2005. Local folklore said that the female lion has a hidden treasure inside it. While the other lion, the male lion, is safeguarded at the St. Jerome school vicinity.

The stone and mortar church which has a three-story facade, and an octagonal bell tower whose cross is illuminated at night and can be seen from the surrounding countryside. The bell tower of the church is used by local fisher man in the nearby towns as a light house when fishing at night and during the storm. Its Frontispiece and the belfry were renovated by Bartolome Palatino of Paete, between 1850-1853.

1st class relic of St. Jerome

An added attraction in the church of Morong is the first class relic of the town's patron saint Saint Jerome; (Patron of scholars of the bible, Saint who translated the bible, feast day : September 30). The first class relic (a part of the saint's body) was given to the parish year 2005, through the effort of then parish priest Rev. Fr. Lawrence "Larry" Paz, when they had their first pilgrimage tour to holy land and Vatican City.

The relic is publicly exposed every Saturday during the anticipated mass, guarded by the knights of Saint Jerome. While the kissing of the relic is done every last Saturday of the month. After two years, another relic was given, in 2007 to the parish again as a gift from the main chaplain of the church of St. Jerome in Rome, this time bigger. This relic is now buried on top of the table of the main altar which is being kissed by the priest every time there is a mass.

Renovations

The following were the most significant projects done according to the records of the parish:[3]

Year Priest Renovations
1948 Fr. Hugh O'Reilly The dome (bubida) was repaired and reconstructed. Arch. Pacifico T. San Miguel drew the plan.

Paintings of the 4 Holy Evangelists St. John, St. Luke, St. Mark and St. Matthew were set up on the sides of the dome.

1950-1953 Fr. John Kaiser (1st term) The old convent was repaired.

Classrooms were constructed for the newly established St. Jerome's Academy. The old main altar was demolished and a provisional wooden altar was constructed.

1959-1961 Fr. John Kaiser (2nd term) A new convent was constructed on the western side of the church, separate from the main church building.
1961 Fr. James McCarthy Through the initiative of the Historical Conservation Society, the repair, restoration and renovation of the church facade and belfry was made possible.
1967-1969 Fr. Thomas Conolly & Fr. Victor Gaboury All stone walls of the church inside and outside and the ceilings were repaired and restored.

Marble tiles were laid on the floor of the sanctuary/main hall.

1981-1988 Fr. John Stratton Landscaping of the churchyard

The provisional wooden altar was demolished and a concrete main altar was constructed. The plan was drawn by Mike San Miguel. Stairways going to the churchyard was restored.

1991-1994 Fr. Patrick O'Herlihy The convent was repaired and an extension was constructed.

A new concrete belfry at the back and east side of the church building was constructed. The plan was drawn by Arch. Ricardo S.D. Gutierrez.

1993 Fr. Patrick O'Herlihy The old baptistry was converted into an Adoration Chapel.
1994-1997 Fr. Arnold Layoc Stained glass pictures of the 4 Holy Evangelists St. John, St. Luke, St. Mark and St. Matthew were set up on the windows of the walls of the sanctuary on the east and west sides of the dome (bubida).

Stained glass pictures of Jesus and Mary (twin hearts) were set up on the windows at the western sides of the central hall. Stained glass picture of St. Jerome was set up on the southern window of the choir loft. Landscaping of the area in front of the church convent.

1997-1999 Fr. Felipe Pedraja Repairs, renovations and changing of electrical wirings and connections
1999-2006 Fr. Larry Paz The convent and Office of the Parish were repaired and renovated.
2000 Fr. Larry Paz All wooden church doors were repaired.

"Dambana ng Kagalakan" was constructed. Pacifico San Miguel and Mike San Miguel drew the plan. Lamp posts around the patio and on the southern side of the driveway were installed. Brick tiles were laid on the ground of the patio.

2001 Fr. Larry Paz St. Jerome statue was placed on the garden in front of the convent.

The Adoration Chapel was renovated and a wooden altar was constructed.

2005 Fr. Larry Paz The relic of St. Jerome was embedded in the main altar.

The perimeter wall on the southern side of the churchyard, which was struck by lightning, was restored. Steel spiral stairs going up the choir loft was constructed.

Locals

It was within this cultural landmark that a local theater group took residence and began to nurture the several local artists who continue to share their talents and expertise in theater, television, media and education. Founded in 1998 by Fr. Felipe Pedraja and the local church choir KISAP, the Dulaang San Geronimo (DSG) is an organization committed to artistic excellence and a people’s culture that fosters both personal fulfillment and social transformation in the province of Rizal. The architecture of the church influenced the diversity of performances that they produced, prompting the artists to explore possibilities that the unique architecture had to offer.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pascual, Timoteo; Guillermo, Liwayway (1978). Morong's 400 Years. Manila: UST Press.
  2. ↑ Fr. Jose "Long" D. Gutay, OFM. "Life and Works of Fray Juan de Plasencia". Order of the Franciscan Missionaries Archives - Philippines.
  3. ↑ Guillermo, Liwayway (2006). Short History of the Parish and Church of Saint Jerome.
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