Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga, San Roque Parish Church
The Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga is also known as the San Roque Parish Church. It lies at the southern part of what was once known as the walled city of Cavite. When the Spaniards came in 1571, they found the place forested and swampy. Its location was very strategic for trade since it was surrounded by water. This may be the reason why many Chinese used to visit the place. In 1573, when the Chinese pirate Limahong was being chased by the Spaniards, he retreated to the northernmost portion of San Roque. This is presently known as Sangley point. In 1614, when the province of Cavite was given a politico-military government, San Roque was created as an independent "pueblo".[1]
| San Roque Church | |
|---|---|
| Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga | |
| Parish of San Roque | |
Santuario Diocesano De La Virgen De La Soledad De Porta Vaga | |
 Façade | |
| |
| 14.480295°N 120.901117°E | |
| Location | Cavite |
| Country | Philippines |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish |
| Founded | 1586 |
| Founder(s) | |
| Dedication | Saint Roch |
| Cult(s) present | Our Lady of Porta Vaga |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Cavite |
| Clergy | |
| Rector | Rev. Fr. Dominador B. Medina PC |
| Vicar(s) | Rev. Fr. Dyonissio Vargas Palingping Rev. Fr. Gilberto Orubio |
 | |
History
San Roque lies at the southern part of what was once known as the walled city of Cavite. When the Spaniards came in 1571, they found the place forested and swampy. Its location was very strategic for trade since it was surrounded by water. This may be the reason why many Chinese used to visit the place. In 1573, when the Chinese pirate Limahong was being chased by the Spaniards, he retreated to the northernmost portion of San Roque. This is presently known as Sangley point. In 1614, when the province of Cavite was given a politico-military government, San Roque was created as an independent "pueblo".[2]
sometime in 1700, a badly damaged ship stopped at a certain place in Cavite called Sapa-sapaan for repair. Aboard the ship was the image of San Roque which the crewmen venerated as their patron. It was customary then to have saints as protectors of the ship while it was on a voyage. Before the work began, the captain of the ship ordered that the image of San Roque be deposited in the nipa chapel of the town. At the time, the patroness of the town was Sta. Margarita. After the ship had been repaired, the captain asked the workers to bring back the image to the ship. To their surprise, the crewmen found out that they could not move the image even an inch from its place. They informed the captain of their strange experience. Thus, they left the image in the chapel. The news spread around the town and from that time on, San Roque was venerated as the patron of the place. The town was renamed after him.[3]
List of Parish Priests
| year | Priest |
|---|---|
| 1774-? | Fr. Vicente Monleon y Peralta [Parish Priest]
Fr. Joseph Mendoza and Fr. Vanta [Assts.] |
| 1808 - 1812 | Fr. Andres Juan del Rosario [Parish Priest]
Fr. Dioniso Ramos, Fr. Alejandro Urana, Fr. Francisco Miranda [Assts.] |
| 1826-? | Fr. Eulalio Ramirez [Parish Priest]
Fr. Mariano de San Agustin [ Asst.] |
| 1827 -1832 | Fr. Lazaro Salustiano [ Parish Priest]
Fr. Mariano de San Agustin, Fr. Baltazar de los Reyes Fr. Ciriaco Roque, Fr. Remigio Baltazar [ Assts.] |
| 1850- ? | Fr. Mamerto Mariano [ Parish Priest ]
Fr. Florentino Tiongco, Fr. Remigio Cornelio [Assts] |
| 1860 -1866 | Fr. Gavino de los Reyes [ Parish Priest ]
Fr. Juan Buenaventura [ Parish Priest ] Fr. Atancio Marchan [ Capellan de Arsenal ] |
| 1886 - 1894 | Fr. Antino Gonzales [Parish Priest]
Fr. Celedonio Mateo, Fr. Cecilio Damian Fr. Vicente Ramirez [ Assts] |
| 1900 | Fr. Gines Ribes S.J |
| 1905 | Fr. Federico Evangelista |
| 1907 | Fr. Blas Reyes |
| 1910 | Fr. Godoredo Aledenhuijo |
| 1912 | Fr. Paul Huwabe |
| 1915 | Fr. Manuel Gatmaytan |
| 1920 | Fr. Simplicio Fernandez |
| 1925 | Fr. Ruberto de Blas [ Recoletos ] |
| 1935 - 1972 | Msgr. Pedro Lerena, D.P [ Parish Priest ] [Recoletos]
Fr. Conrado Gosioco [ Asst] Fr. Artemio Casas, Fr. Greg Ma. Villaseran [Ministers] Fr. German Chicota, Fr. Paulino Lerena [Interim] |
| 1972-1988 | Msgr. Baraquiel Mojica, D.P [ Parish Priest ] |
| 1988 - 1999 | Msgr. Hernando Godoy, D.P [ Parish Priest ] |
| 1999 - 2009 | Fr. Avelino Sapida [ Parish Priest ] |
| 2009 - 2013 | Fr. Cezar R. Reyes Jr. [ Parish Priest ] |
| 2013–Present | Fr. Dominador B. Medina [Parish Administrator/Priest] |
References
- From the province-wide research conducted by Fr. Cornelio Matanguihan for the Diocese of Imus. Hereafter this will be referred as the Matanguihan Research
- Cavite Studies Center-De La Salle University Dasmariñas. CAVITE Cultura e Historia. Edited by Teresita P. Unabia and Victor Immanuel R. Cuarto. Cavite: Cavite Historical Society, Inc., 2002.
- Cavite Studies Center-De La Salle University Dasmariñas. CAVITE Cultura e Historia. Edited by Teresita P. Unabia and Victor Immanuel R. Cuarto. Cavite: Cavite Historical Society, Inc., 2002.
Other references
- Barcelona, Mary Anne. Ynang Maria: A Celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Philippines. Edited by Consuelo B. Estepa, P.D. Pasig City: Anvil Publishing, Inc., 2004.
- Cavite Studies Center-De La Salle University Dasmariñas. CAVITE Cultura e Historia. Edited by Teresita P. Unabia and Victor Immanuel R. Cuarto. Cavite: Cavite Historical Society, Inc., 2002.
- Archdiocesan Archives of Manila: (Document Nos. 92 LGE1C9 1751-1752A; 109–10, LGE 1010 1767–1771; 182, LGE 1 C 8 - 1750 1742 A; 250, LGE 1 C 9 - 1747 1756; 294, LGE 1 C 9 - 1751-1752 A; 321, LGE 1 C 8 - 1737 1742; 436, Libro del Govierno Ecclesiastico 1 C 8 1737 - 1750; SV4A1 1805 - 1806 A; 475, 522, 960 LGE 1010 1767 - 1771; and 20 S V 4aL 1786 - 87 B)
- Don Gervacio Pangilinan. Historica de Cavite, mss.
- Aviado, Lutgarda. Madona of the Philippines. [n.imp.]
- Samonte, Godofredo, Odyssey of the Virgin. Souvenir Program Cavite Fiesta, 1964.
- San Agustin, Narciso La Tradicional Fiesta de Cavite. Souvenir Program, Cavite Fiesta, 1949.