Immaculate Conception Parish Church (Santa Maria)
| Santa Maria Church | |
|---|---|
| La Purísima Concepción Parish Church | |
The façade and bell tower of Santa Maria Church
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 Santa Maria Church
Republic of the Philippines
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| 14°49′10″N 120°57′48″E / 14.819513°N 120.963234°ECoordinates: 14°49′10″N 120°57′48″E / 14.819513°N 120.963234°E | |
| Location | Santa Maria, Bulacan, |
| Country |
 Philippines
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| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | http://www.lapurisimaconcepcionparish.com |
| History | |
| Founded | 1793 |
| Founder(s) | Father Francisco Javier and Tomas Marti OFM |
| Dedication | La Purísima Concepción |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church building |
| Style | Barn-style Baroque |
| Completed | late 1800s |
| Specifications | |
| Number of domes | 1 |
| Materials | Stone |
| Bells | 5 (5) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Santa Maria |
| Eastern District | |
| Archdiocese | Manila |
| Diocese | Malolos |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Luis Antonio Tagle |
| Bishop(s) | Jose Francisco Oliveros |
| Priest(s) | Rev. Msgr. Ranilo S. Trillana, PC |
| Assistant priest(s) | Rev. Fr. Renato Brion, Jr. |
The La Purísima Concepción Parish Church, locally known as Santa Maria Church (Filipino: Simbahan ng Parokya ng La Purisima Concepcion) (Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de la Purísima Concepción) is a Roman Catholic Church located in the municipality of Santa Maria, in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. It is under the coat of arms and jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Malolos and Seat of the Episcopal Vicar of the Eastern District of the Diocese of Malolos.
Santa Maria Church founded by Franciscan Friars as a visita by Father Francisco Javier, OFM under the parish of Saint Martin of Tours in Bocaue. The materials was initially made of cogon and bamboo and later stronger materials. Then by 1792, Santa Maria de Pandi gained independence from its matrix and the construction of a bigger church commenced. The church was renamed Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The church is home to an image of the Virgin Mary that is believed to be miraculous. There are two local legends as to how the image arrived in Santa Maria: first is that it was brought to the town by the Franciscan Friars, second is that it was sculpted out of wood from a galleon. The image has been stolen in the 1930s and was retrieved in Nueva Ecija by a man named Teofilo Ramirez who claimed that the Virgin Mary appeared in his dream and gave instructions as to where the image can be found. The image was returned to the town on a February and the townsfolk accordingly adjusted their feast day to the first Thursday of February except when its falls on February 2 (the feast of the Our Lady of the Candles).
Hermandad y Cofradia De La Sagrada Pasion handles the solemn procession of Holy week in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
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Wikipedia