Diocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, San Rafael, Bulacan

The Diocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is located at Cruz na Daan, San Rafael, Bulacan. It’s one of the most beautiful church I’ve seen in my province of Bulacan and it’s located along the National Road that connects Baliuag to San Miguel, Bulacan (and to Nueva Ecija).

The façade of the San Rafael Church (officially known as the Diocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus) in Bulacan.

The church is Neo-Classical because of the use of the Greek Corinthian column, and Romanesque because of the curves and arches. It has a single belfry and the image of the Sacred Heart is on the façade of the church along with a stained glass rose window.

The rose window shows the Resurrection of Christ.

The main doors of the Diocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus has the Lamb of God as it’s decoration. Inside the church, you’ll see arches and the dome at the main altar. The main altar shows the apparition of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque of France who started the devotion to the Sacred Heart. There’s also a painting of the Immaculate Conception and an archangel (I’m assuming it is St. Raphael).

The marker reads:

Diocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Cruz na Daan, San Rafael, Bulacan

We commend to the Lord the thousands of people who helped build this church.

The wealthy who shared their abundance, the gifted who gave their skills and their labor;

The less fortunate who offered their prayers, friends and kinsmen from far away lands;

All who gave what they could to transform a dream into an inspiring reality.

This house of God stands

As a living symbol of their common faith,

A monument to friendship that made them one,

Their fullest offering of thanksgiving of His beneficence

May the Lord inscribe their names in His generous heart

And grant them their just rewards,

1^st Day of December 2000

The other marker reads:

Marker

In commemoration of the solemn dedication and proclamation of the church as the Diocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus located at Cruz na Daan, San Rafael, Bulacan.

Officiated by his Excellency Rolando J. Tria Tirona O.C.D., D.D. Bishop of Malolos on the 1^st Day of December 2000 in the year of our Lord during the incumbency of Rev. Fr. Adalberto G. Vergara as parish priest.

This Holy Week 2014, it’s worth visiting the Diocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in San Rafael, Bulacan along with other churches in the province.

The markers of the church.

The Lamb of God.

Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Interior of the Diocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, San Rafael, Bulacan.

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The wonderful dome of the Diocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in San Rafael, Bulacan.

The Main Altar.

The Rose Window depicting the Resurrection of Christ and other events in the New Testament.

Details of the arch. Diocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, San Rafael, Bulacan.

Details of the ceiling.

Details of the façade.

Details of the side windows.

Details of the grills.

The side elevation of the Diocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, San Rafael, Bulacan.

Façade of the church.

Monument to the Unborn.

The Diocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, San Rafael, Bulacan is along the National Highway that connects Baliuag to Nueva Ecija, passing by San Rafael, San Ildefonso and San Miguel in Bulacan.

BuzzNet Tags: Holy Week 2014,San Rafael Church,Bulacan,Diocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Parish of St. Isidore, the Farmer, Pulilan, Bulacan

During my 13 years in Baliuag, Bulacan, I only witnessed the Pulilan Town Fiesta only once. Baliuag and Pulilan are just neighbor towns. Two years ago, I purchased a DSLR and started taking pictures of churches. I was at Baliuag, Bulacan recently to attend a birthday party and I was able to take pictures of 6 churches – in Pulilan, Baliuag, Bustos, Sabang (in Baliuag), San Rafael and San Ildefonso.

Pulilan, Bulacan was my first stop. The old name of Pulilan was San Isidro, named after the Patron Saint of Farmers – St. Isidore the Laborer. The town’s fiesta is set every 14^th and 15^th of May and I’m definitely coming to this year’s Pulilan Fiesta 2014. I was able to visit the Church of Pulilan (dedicated to San Isidro) last Sunday and I realized that it’s one of the smallest town churches I’ve ever seen.

Similar to the Marilao Church, the Pulilan’s Catholic Cemetery is located besides the church. The façade of the Pulilan Church is simple with 1 belfry and the statue of San Isidro (St. Isidore) located above the main entrance. The Pulilan Church’s main doors contain the first and last letter of the Greek alphabet, Alpha and Omega, a title attributed to the Christ. The statues of St. Augustine and St. Monica are also seen on the church’s façade.

The marker on the Pulilan Church’s façade reads:

Parroquia ng San Isidro Labrador

Pulilan, Bulacan

Ang dating campanaryo ng simbahan ay iginuho ng malakas na lindol nang taong 1882. Sa pamamagitan ng kusang abuluyan ng bayan at ibang nagmamagandang-loob ay muling ipinagawa noong Octubre 18, 1959.

Deogracias R. Javier

Cura Parroco

Catalino Espino

Inhinyero

Edgardo B. Villacorte

Coadjutor

Dionisio Coronel

Arkitekto

It’s roughly translated as:

Parish of St. Isidore the Laborer

Pulilan, Bulacan

The old belfry of the church was devastated by a strong earthquake in 1882. Through donations and the efforts of kind-hearted (parishioners), it was rebuilt on October 18, 1959.

Deogracias R. Javier

Parish Priest

Catalino Espino

Engineer

Edgardo B. Villacorte

Coadjutor

Dionisio Coronel

Architect

Another marker on the church’s façade reads:

DEDICATION

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord (Psalm 122)

We commend to the Lord the thousand of people who helped built this Church; those who shared their abundance; those who gave their skills and their labors; those who offered their prayers; and all our friends and other benefactors who gave helped transform a dream into a reality, through the efforts and guidance of our beloved pastor, Rev. Fr. Leocadio P. De Jesus.

This House of God stands as a living symbol of our common faith, a monument of friendship that makes us one in our fullest offering of thanksgiving for His beneficence.

May the Lord inscribe their names in His generous Heart and grant them their just reward.

This Solemn Dedication of the Church of the Parish of St. Isidore, the Farmer, Pulilan, Bulacan was presided by His Excellency, Most Rev. Jose F. Oliveros, D.D., Bishop of Malolos under the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI on the 7^th day of February, 2013, Year of the Golden Jubilee of the Diocese of Malolos and Year of Faith.

That in all things God may be glorified!

Diocese of Malolos

50 Years 1963-2013

Biyaya at Pananampalataya

Let’s attend the Pulilan Town Fiesta 2014. I hope the local government of Pulilan would give me a photographer’s pass.

The marker of the town of Pulilan near the Public Market.

The façade of the Pulilan Church a.k.a. St. Isidore the Laborer Parish Church.

St. Isidore the Laborer – the Patron Saint of Farmers.

The Pulilan Church Belfry.

The Pulilan Catholic Cemetery besides the church.

The belfry of the Pulilan Church reconstructed in 1959.

The side entrance of the Pulilan Church (St. Isidore Parish Church).

St. Augustine – also the Patron Saint of Baliuag, Bulacan.

Marker commemorating the 50th Year Anniversary of the Diocese of Malolos where Pulilan Church (and Baliuag Church) belongs.

St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine.

Several religious items for sale in front of the Pulilan Church (St. Isidore the Laborer Parish).

Alpha – the first letter of the Greek Alphabet.

Omega – the last letter of the Greek Alphabet.

Typical Sunday morning at the Pulilan Church (Parish of St. Isidore the Laborer).

The Church of Pulilan (dedicated to St. Isidore the Laborer) in Bulacan. I can’t wait to attend the Pulilan Town Fiesta 2014.

The Bank of Florida, Pulilan, Bulacan (near the Public Market) where the statue of a farmer and the name PULILAN welcomes tourists to the town.

BuzzNet Tags: Pulilan,Bulacan,St. Isidore the Laborer,St. Isidore the Farmer,San Isidro Labrador