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THE STORY OF OUR LADY OF CANDLES Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines The historic stone image of Our Lady of the Candles is enshrined in St. Elizabeth's Cathedral, Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines. The image shows Our Lady carrying a candle in her right hand. her left hand carries the child holding a globe. Traditional story tells that fishermen found a foot image in Iloilo River in 1587. Despite in size, the image was so heavy that 10 men could not lift it. When the people decided to notify the priest and take the image to the church in Jaro, one man succeeded in carrying the stone image. In 1874, Jaro became a diocese and a cathedral was built. At the time, the image was to be transferred inside the cathedral, it rained with thunderstorm and lighting for a whole week. It was therefore decided to place the image in the the uppermost niche atop the facade of the cathedral overlooking the plaza so that "Our Lady might reign over the town as Protectress". In the beginning the people kept a vigil to light Our Lady's image but later this practice was forgotten. According to the Vicar General and former parish priest of Jaro, Iloilo City, Msgr. Jose M. Gamboa, Our Lady herself reminded the people about the neglect through the story. A Chinaman ran a sari-sari store across the church plaza. One night, a beautiful lady with long hair came to him and said "I want to buy oil because my son has no light". The Chinaman became curious and decided to follow the beautiful lady. He saw the lady bathing her child in the artesian well across the church plaza. He decided to go home. When he was about to retrace his step, the lady disappeared. He turned his back and looked at the top of the church which started to blaze with light. The beautiful lady was there at the Virgin's niche. The Chinaman was converted and up to this day, descendants still maintain a sari-sari store across the plaza. Between 1921-1939, the time of Msgr Luis Capalla, the Lady would disappear from her niche. She would be seen bathing her child in the artesian well. People who washed themselves in the water of the well were healed from aches and pains. In 1981, Pope John Paul II crowned the image of Our Lady of the Candles and the Divine Infant. The coronation ceremony was the greatest religious event in the history of Panay. Declared as the Patroness of Western Visayas, her feast is celebrated on February 2 whuch is Our Lady's Day of Purification. {courtesy of Our Lady of Candles Parish, Jaro, Iloilo City} |
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1571 March 3, 1575 1587 April 25, 1587 Oct. 31, 1636 1636 1742-1744 July 13, 1787 May 27, 1865 1865 Sept. 20, 1867 April 25, 1868 Feb. 22, 1869 Jan. 29 - Feb. 2, 1874 Feb. 1, 1874 1881 1911 1933 Jan. 25, 1948 June 29, 1951 Nov. 18, 1951 1952 1957 May 26, 1965 Jan. 1981 Feb. 21, 1981 April 21, 1982 July 27-29, 1995 Jan. 7, 2001 August 2007 November 17, 2010 July 16, 2011 |
HISTORY OF THE PARISH IN A GLIMPSE Salog (later hispanized to Xaro and finally Jaro), an encomienda of Francisco Duran. Jaro, originally located in Alanga (now part of La Paz), a visita or pastoral charge of Ogtong(Oton). One foot image of the Candelaria found on the banks of the Iloilo River and brought to Jaro (Alanga) Jaro was established as a parish. The change of patroness took place: from Our Lady of the Nativity to Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria. Fr. Bernardo Alisen began the transfer of the parish from Alanga to its present site because the settlement was unsafe from Moro raids. The transfer was completed by Fr. Juan Aguado who also drafted the basic town plan and constructed a convent and church a hundred meters from its present site (Salud Montinola Residence). The Jaro belfry was constructed. A strong earthquake damaged the church and the bell tower. Pope Pius IX decreed the creation of the Diocese of Jaro through the Papal Bull. The Augustinians ceded the church to the diocese in exchange for the parishes of La Paz and San Jose Placer. Mariano Cuartero, D.D. was appointed first bishop of Jaro. Mariano Cuartero, D.D. took possession of the diocese. He immediately began the work of enlarging the parish church of La Candelaria using the plans of Fr. Agueria. Construction of the present cathedral, supervised by Manuel Arguelles. The Cathedral, the Bishops Residence and the Seminary were inaugurated. Solemn transfer of the image of La Candelaria from the old church to its niche in the new cathedral. Restoration of the Jaro Belfry by Mariano Cuartero, D.D. Dennis Dougherty, D.D. (1908-1916) convoked the first ever Diocesan Synod of Jaro. James P. McCloskey, D.D. (1920-1945) convoked the 2nd diocesan synod of Jaro. Lady Caycay (earthquake) damaged the cathedral of Jaro and its belfry as well as many other churches in Panay. With the Papal Bull Quo in Philippina Republica, Pope Pius XII elevated Jaro as a Metropolitan Archdiocesan Church. Jose Ma. Cuenco, D.D. installed as the First Archbishop of Jaro. The Cathedral was reinforced and the twin bell towers were constructed by Juan Nilmar, D.D. Zaldivar painted the 4 evangelists at the pendentives of the dome. The Cathedral and its new altar were dedicated, A Deo in Honorem Sancta Elizabeth. The image was brought down from its niche supervised by Alberto Piamonte D.D. in full regalia. The image of Our Lady of Candles was canonically crowned by the Servant of God Pope John Paul II, the only image of the Virgin in the Philippines crowned by the Pope himself. Pope John Paul II proclaimed Our Lady of Candles patroness of Western Visayas. Parish Congress of the Parish of Our Lady of Candles. Angel Lagdameo, D.D. convoked the 3rd diocesan synod of Jaro. Start of the present General Repair of the Cathedral. Rededication of the Cathedral. Formally established as an Archdiocesan Shrine. Decree of Establishment by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines establishing the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles Source: Our Lady of Candles National Shrine 2013 Web Developed by Ace Martin Aceron |
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