1. History

2. Image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Pulong Buhangin

3. Parish Priests of the church

4. Present Administration

5. References

6. External links

The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, commonly referred as Nuestra Señora Del Carmen Parish, (Filipino: Parokya ng Birhen ng Bundok ng Karmelo) (Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de la Nuestra Señora del Carmen) is a Roman Catholic Church situated in Barangay Pulong Buhangin, Santa Maria, in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. It is under the coat of arms and jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Malolos and within the vicariate of Santa Maria. Barangay Pulong Buhangin celebrates its barrio fiesta every second/third (depends on the liturgical year) Sunday of February in honor of the arrival of the image of our lady (translacion) to the barrio. The parish also celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel every July 16.

On March 23, 2016, the laity celebrated the opening of its 75th year (Diamond Jubilee) as a parish. The high mass was spearheaded by Most Rev. Deogracias Iñiguez,D.D., the bishop emeritus of Caloocan, together with Most. Rev. Cirilo Almario, D.D., the bishop emeritus of Malolos and several priests of the diocese.

History

The parish was established on November 25, 1940, by the decree of then Archbishop of Manila, Rev. Michael J. O'Doherty. This decree separated the barrios of Pulong Buhangin, Quepombo, Catmon, Tigbe and others from the jurisdiction of Immaculate Conception Parish Church (Santa Maria). The assistant priest of Santa Maria church by that time, Rev. Fr. Jose B. Aguinaldo (later became a monsignor) was installed in 1941 as its first parish priest.

The present day church was constructed in late 1950s where laborers were paid only five working days and donated their sixth working day to the church. Then after, the Archbishop of Manila, Rufino Cardinal Santos blessed the newly-constructed church. This is the product of the grace of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and many years of toil and labor of the people of Pulong Buhangin, including the generous donors (one of the donors was the archbishop himself). From a small bisita (chapel), it underwent renovation through the years into what it is today.^[1] In 2007, through the supervision of Rev. Fr. Elmer R. Ignacio, S.T.L. (the incumbent parish priest at that time), the main altar underwent a major renovation to prepare the church for its centennial fiesta and its canonical enthronement which happened on February 17, 2008 and November 16, 2008, respectively. The centennial fiesta had the theme: "Pamanang Pananampalataya, Bayang Naglilingkod". Centennial markers were placed near the main door and the middle of the church to commemorate the historical event. The relic of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, a prominent figure in the carmelite society and one of the doctors of the church, was brought in the parish last 2008.

Image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Pulong Buhangin

The church is home to a miraculous 350-year old ivory statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Legend says an old lady (believed as the Virgin Mary) approached an old man dwelling in the barrio named "Kunino" and instructed him to build a chapel. The old lady gave a letter and said that it must be presented to Simeon and Simeona, the richest spouses in the barrio to provide him the funds needed for the construction. Kunino approached the spouses and gave the letter. Simeon and Simeona refused to the request and then the letter was put into fire. To the surprise of the witnesses, the letter was not consumed by fire. This was considered one of the first miracles of our lady in the barrio. Due to shock of what happened, the spouses immediately ordered the construction of the chapel.^[2] After this event, the old lady appeared again to Kunino, and instructed him to get a statue of Our Lady in San Sebastian Church (Manila). Kunino followed the instructions set forth by the old lady and went to San Sebastian Church. He requested a statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to the friars. On February 9, 1665, the statue was brought from San Sebastian Church to the barrio of Pulong Buhangin. This event is also known as "translacion". This is why the barrio celebrates its fiesta every February.

The original image is currently enshrined in the church museum, known as "Museo de Carmelo" within the parish building.^[3]

Parish Priests of the church

The following priests have served the church.^[4]

Present Administration

The parish is currently under the pastorship of Rev. Fr. Edgardo "Egai" C. De Jesus, Ph.D., the 15th parish priest (Filipino: Kura Paroko) of the church and the de facto chairman of the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC), together with the Vice Chairman, Atty. Manuel "Manny" Gaite. Fr. Egai came from Nuestra Señora de Lourdes Parish in Doña Remedios Trinidad, and was formally installed on February 1, 2014. He succeeded Rev. Fr. Elmer R. Ignacio, S.T.L., who then was designated as the new parish priest of St. James the Apostle Parish in Plaridel, Bulacan.

References

External links

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