Santa Monica Parish Church (Minalin)
| Minalin Church | |
|---|---|
| Santa Monica Parish Church Iglesia Parroquial de Santa Mónica |
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Famous for its retablo like facade
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.svg)
 Minalin Church
Republic of the Philippines
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| 14°58′06″N 120°41′01″E / 14.9684°N 120.6836°ECoordinates: 14°58′06″N 120°41′01″E / 14.9684°N 120.6836°E | |
| Location | San Nicolas, Minalin, Pampanga |
| Country |
 Philippines
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| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | Sta Monica Parish Church Minalin |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 1834, 2011 |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | National Cultural Treasure |
| Designated | August 27, 2011 |
| Architect(s) | Fr. Manuel Franco Tubil |
| Architectural type | Church building |
| Style | Baroque |
| Groundbreaking | 1764 |
| Completed | 1834 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 52 metres (171 ft) |
| Width | 13 metres (43 ft) |
| Height | 11 metres (36 ft) |
| Materials | Sand, gravel, cement, mortar, steel and bricks |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | San Fernando |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Florentino Lavarias |
| Priest(s) | Rev. Fr. Eric de Guzman |
The Santa Monica Parish Church (Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de Santa Mónica), commonly known as the Minalin Church, is a Baroque church, located in poblacion area of San Nicolas in Minalin, Pampanga, Philippines. The church, built during the Spanish era, was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the National Museum of the Philippines on August 27, 2011, one of 37 churches in the country bestowed that honor.
The parish church is part of the ecclesiastical province of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando, under the Vicariate of Christ The King. The church is under the patronage of Saint Monica of Hippo, with a feast day celebrated annually every second Sunday of May. The current parish priest is Rev. Fr. Eric de Guzman succeeding Rev. Fr. Greg Vega.
Founded in 1614, Minalin parish started as a visita (sub-parish) of Macabebe, Pampanga. Fr. Miguel de Saldaña was assigned in 1618 as its own parish priest. On October 31, 1624, the Minalin parish was accepted as independent vicariate under its prior, Fr. Martín Vargas. Minalin was given the two visitas of Pangasinan and Tubungao (Sta. Maria) in 1633. The act was reconfirmed in 1639. The convent of Minalin was under the Augustinians as of May 5, 1670. was added to Bacolor on May 9, 1650 and to Betis on October 21, 1678, and May 11, 1680. Don Lorenzo Malaca was the first native secular assigned to Minalin in 1771, succeeded by Don Manuel Francisco Tubil.
The original location of the church was in Barangay Santa Maria. However, lumber stocks for the church construction were carried by floods from Santa Maria to a hilly place called Burol, which eventually became the location of the present church. The legend of the town's name came from "minalis la ding dutung, minalis ya ing pisamban" (the lumber moved, and so must the church). Capitan Diego Tolentino wrote the location as “minalis”, which evolved into "Minalin."
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Wikipedia