Immaculate Conception Parish & Shrine

Immaculate Conception Parish & Shrine is located at San Lorenzo Ruiz Street, Brgy. Villamonte Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. The said baranggay is one of the largest constituent in the city composed of 35 purok. To give you a little idea about brgy. Villamonte let me share to you a brief history, it is not my own written composition. It was copied and pasted here just for reference purposes only. At same time to provide concrete information for further understanding. I will provide the source link of the following context written below.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Barangay Villamonte was once a vast sprawling sugarcane field formerly known
as Hda. Mandalagan and later became part of the large Montelibano holdings.
Through sheer vision of the Grand Old Man Don Alfredo Montelibano Sr. a low
cost subdivision was opened with the sole purpose of giving opportunity to the
less fortunate low income group to acquire a lot and build a home of their own.
Majority of the early residents were laborers and employees, thus it was then
adequately and popularly known as Barrio Obrero.

source

Brief History

On April 01, 1962 Bishop Manuel P. Yap erected what was formerly known as " Barrio Obrero " A Christian Community to a Chaplaincy. On March 04, 1969 , Bishop Antonio Y. Fortich elevated the chaplaincy into a parish. On May 30, 2006 Bishop Vicente M. Navarra declare this church as the Diocesan Shrine of Immaculate Conception.

Parish Priest from 1957 up to present

Most Rev. Vicente G. Salgado , DD. 1957-1971
Rev. Fr. Wilfredo G. Saldajeno 1971-1975
Rev. Msgr. Joselino Ilidan, HP 1975-1976
Rev. Fr. Rafael S. Arib 1976-1985
Rev. Msgr. Nicasio C. Melicor 1985-1990
Rev. Msgr. Andres F. Delfin 1990-1996
Rev. Fr. Narciso A. Dela Cruz 1996-2001
Rev. Fr. Genaro C. Demacais 2001-2003
Rev. Fr. Anecito A. Buenafe , Jr. 2003-2005
Rev. Fr. Samson P. Mariano 2005-2012
Rev. Fr. Rolly Albert A. Escubido present

This Shrine is dedicated to the " Mother of God, The Blessed Virgin Mary, The Immaculate Conception"
In whose honor this sacred place has become the sanctuary of devotion and prayers.

From 1962 to 2012 throughout the 50 years from its foundation and the years to come. This Shrine will continue to stand as a living testimony to the maternal love, care and protection of the Immaculate Conception to all the faithful and devotees.

Alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. They are used at various times in the Church liturgical year. The alpha and omega have been used by Catholics since the fourth century as symbols expressing the confidence of orthodox Christians in the scriptural proofs of God.source

The Crucifix

The common religious symbols in most catholic churches, cathedrals, shrine that symbolizes the body of Christ. It also represents as symbol of his sacrifices and our salvation from our sins.

Religious Pictured glass frames bordered with combination aluminum and wood. has detailed designs with bended round bar metals colored with black glossy enamel paint. Frame dimension is 3 feet in height and 2 feet wide with approximate over all size including the metal borders in 4 feet X 3 feet.

Wall decorations are fastened on the walls bettween concave windows and wall corners.

Massive plain bended round metal chandeliers coated with white enamel paint. No dangling accessories like fancy diamonds, glass or other glancing decorative pieces. The size of the chandeliers is wider and the biggest chandeliers I've ever seen from all the churches I already visited. It has more than 1 and half meter wide and 1-1/4 height from the base where the solid galvanized chain are connected that hold this heavy solid metal chandelier.

There is a small chapel at the right side of the church open for the community for those who wants to pray. Many students visiting this place coming from nearest school 20 meters away from Immaculate Conception Parish. The 22 sqm. chapel can accommodate small number of devotee, but the space is wide enough to cater huge number in the garden itself outside the chapel vicinity.

I took Different angles taking the exterior facade and view of the church from outside from the nearest distance, intermediate and far distances. The building structure shape is more likely on modern designs. The way it was build is not relatively similar to old Spanish churches. However the interior of the church has something, that portrays the Spanish churches in general.

All of these was taken yesterday during my walking trip to find churches, historical places, wall graffiti's and any subject I can feature to my post. The time I visited the church it was closed, but after I went to the open gate at the right side. There are maintenance personnel working and cleaning the church. So I had the opportunity to take several photos in quick time. Because the church are supposedly closed that day and the small chapel is the only available area for people devotional prayer.

All the images are originally mine and taken using my nikon coolpix camera.

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