Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Charity
| Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Charity Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Basic information | |
| Location | Agoo, La Union, Philippines |
| Geographic coordinates | 16°19′23″N 120°22′3″E / 16.32306°N 120.36750°E |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Year consecrated | 1978 |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Minor basilica (Basilica Decree: 1982.07.15) |
| Status | active |
| Leadership | Msgr. Alfonso V. Lacsamana, PC |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Ignacio Palma Bautista |
| Architectural type | Basilica |
| Architectural style | Mexican-Baroque |
| Groundbreaking | 1976 |
| Completed | 1978 |
| Specifications | |
| Dome(s) | One |
| Materials | Reinforced concrete |
The Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Charity (Spanish: Basilica Menor de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad), better known as Agoo Basilica, is a Roman Catholic Minor Basilica in Agoo, La Union, the Philippines dedicated to Our Lady of Charity. It is the seat of the Santa Monica Parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Fernando de La Union under the Vicariate of St. Francis Xavier (Vicar Forane Father Raul S. Panay). The diocese of San Fernando La Union is part of the territory of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. The basilica is under the leadership of parish priest, Msgr. Alfonso V. Lacsamana, PC and Parish Vicar, Father Liberato A. Apusen. It is situated along MacArthur Highway in Agoo, La Union in front of the Jose D. Aspiras Civic Center.
The parish was originally founded in 1578 by Franciscan friars, Fray John Baptist Lucarelli of Pesaro, Italy and Fray Sebastián de San Francisco of Baesa, Spain. The original church was constructed with native materials, nipa and bamboo (in Barangay Nagreban or Nagrugcan) under its patron, St. Francis of Assisi. In 1598, Padres Saturmino Franco, Casimiro Melgosa and Aquilino García finished a 3-tiered bell tower for the church. In the same year, the Augustinians named Saint Monica as the town's new patron saint.
On March 16, 1892, a massive earthquake destroyed the church, paving the way for reconstruction of the shrine of "Nuestra Señora de Caridad" in 1893. It was later demolished and replaced with the present church in 1975.
...
Wikipedia