Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Zamboanga City)
| Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Basic information | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| District | Archdiocese of Zamboanga |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Metropolitan Cathedral |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Abarro and Associates |
| Architectural type | Cathedral |
| Architectural style | modern architecture |
| Groundbreaking | 1998 |
| Completed | 2002 |
| Construction cost | about PhP 85,000,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | west |
| Capacity | 1,000+ (main church) |
| Materials | concrete, steel |
The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, commonly known as simply the Zamboanga Cathedral, is a church located in Zamboanga City, Philippines. It is the seat of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga.
The first church was originally located at the front of Plaza Pershing, where the present Universidad de Zamboanga stands. The church was designated a cathedral in 1910 when the diocese of Zamboanga was created. In 1943, the cathedral was one of the edifices bombarded by Japanese soldiers during World War II. In 1956, the cathedral was relocated beside Ateneo de Zamboanga University, formerly known as the Jardin de Chino.
The cathedral located at the Plaza Pershing was made of wood and concrete. The image of the Immaculate Conception was located at the main altar, with two Jesuit saints Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier on each side. The image of the patroness was said to be spared from the bombs of World War II and was transferred to a road now known as La Purisima Street.
The former structure of the cathedral was designed in 1956. The site was used to be the chapel of the Jardin de Chino. The facade consists of the life-size sculpture of Immaculate Conception at the left side and the bell-tower at right. The chapel of the saints were located inside the area where the image outside was located. The stations of the cross were made of stained glass at each side and the added station, "Resurrection", was located near the right altar at the confession area. Then the bronze relief of the last supper was located at the day chapel which serves later as the perpetual adoration chapel.
The present structure of the cathedral was built in 1998-2002 in cruciform, of which the candle-like design is appropriate to the cathedral's patron. Inside the main church is marble statue of the Immaculate Conception designed by Philippine National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon Abueva. Along the aisles are the stained-glass symbolic images of all dioceses in Mindanao from 1910 to 1984. The day chapel at the ground floor is used for weekday masses. Fronting the day chapel is the baptistery with the relic of Our Lady of the Pillar, the patroness of the city. Behind the day chapel is the columbarium with a replica of Michelangelo's "Pietà" and the stained-glass images of the 12 apostles around it. The left wing houses the parish office and the adoration chapel, while the convention hall is located in the right wing. The original statue of the Immaculate Conception, which was placed in the main altar of the old church, can be seen at the parish office.
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