The Construction Of A New Church And The Demolition Of Spanish Church (Santiago City) 1951

 

The Spanish Church 1910

Spanish Church Photo Contribution by Ei-peng Ralph Apeng

The New Church 1951

In 1951, Father Blanchet started the construction of a new and bigger church. seeing the historic value and beauty of the Spanish Church, they planned to restore it. Unluckily a strong earthquake that struck the whole Cagayan Valley o December 28, 1948 rendered it beyond repair. So the Fathers built a semi-concrete church along Bayaua Street. They had the Spanish Church completely demolished and use some parts of it in the new church.

The financial aspects in the construction of the new church which was engineered by Rev. Father Raymond Leduc, MS, was made available through the Knights Of Columbus headed by Atty. Vicente Aggabao and later by Dr. Adolfo Flores. The Catholic Women's League headed by Mrs. Emilia Durian also provided financial assistance by soliciting donations. The church was finished in 1954 by Rev. Father Maurice Cardinal MS, when he was appointed parish priest of Saint James Parish.

Rev. Father Raymond Leduc, MS

(L to R) Bro. Donat Levasseur, Fr. Raymond Leduc, Fr. Conrad Blanchet, Fr. Paul Douillard

Father Maurice Cardinal MS

Atty. Vicente Aggabao

Dr. Adolfo Flores

The first group of Catholic Women's League organized by Fr. Maurice Cardinal MS (center) when he was assigned as parish priest of Saint James Parish 1958

The Knights of Columbus members, (from left to right: Atty Marianito Alvarez, Engr. Paco Flores, Judge Alipio Taguinod, Dr. Adolfo Flores & Atty. Triunfo Taguinod.

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SOURCE: Excerpt from Filipina T. Villapando Book, History of Santiago 1st Edition