Saint Peter the Apostle Church (Vinzons)

Parroquia de San Pedro Apostol
Saint Peter the Apostle Parish Church
Church facade in 2023
Parroquia de San Pedro Apostol Location in Camarines Norte Show map of Camarines Norte Parroquia de San Pedro Apostol Location in Luzon Show map of Luzon Parroquia de San Pedro Apostol Location in the Philippines Show map of Philippines
14°10′22″N122°54′24″E / 14.17270°N 122.90671°E / 14.17270; 122.90671
Location	Vinzons, Camarines Norte
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	active
Architectural type	Church building
Style	Baroque
Completed	1611 (Reconstructed in 2013 or 2014 Finished 2015)
Administration
Diocese	Daet

The Parroquia de San Pedro Apostol, also known as Saint Peter the Apostle Church, is a Roman Catholic Church located in the municipality of Vinzons in Camarines Norte, Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Daet and is the oldest church in Camarines Norte built by the Franciscan friars in 1611. ^[1] The new parish priest is Rev. Fr. Ronald Anthony P. Timoner, V.G. He was Appointed in February 22, 2024.^{[ citation needed ]}

History

The church on July 6, 2007

A town named Tacboan was established by Franciscan priests in 1581. In 1611, Rev. Fr. Juan de Losar, OFM built a church named after Saint Peter. Fr. Losar was the first parish priest of the church. In 1624, the whole town of Tacboan was relocated and it was called Indan where a new church was built with the same patron saint, St. Peter the Apostle. In 1636, the missionaries established a church of Labo combining with Indan. In 1661, the secular clergy started administering the church.

After World War II, Indan was renamed Vinzons in honor of Wenceslao Q. Vinzons; a former governor of the Camarines Norte, youngest delegate to the Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1935, and a guerrilla leader martyred by the Japanese during World War II.

In 1994, the left and right sides of the church were repaired with the help of the townspeople. In 2011, the 400th foundation anniversary of the Parish of St. Peter the Apostle including the Parish of St. John the Baptist in Daet and Parish of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in Paracale, Camarines Norte was celebrated.

On December 26, 2012, the church was destroyed by a fire. ^[2] According to its parish priest, Rev. Fr. Francisco Regala Jr., the historical artifacts of church were not saved. ^[2] The Governor of Camarines Norte, Edgardo "Egay" Tallado, said that the slow response of the fire marshall resulted in the destruction of the whole church except for the concrete walls. ^[3]

Reconstruction of the Church

Through the efforts of Rev. Fr. Augusto Jesus B. Angeles III, the 400-year-old limestone church was restored in a 15th-century setting. The flooring consists of the same baldozas mosaicos or machuca tiles, specially fired and featuring the same design. Wooden doors and benches are made of yakal, featuring sculpted banyan tree leaves. The windows are handcrafted and fired by Kraut Art Glass with a modern and symmetrical design. Chandeliers and ceiling murals were commissioned pro bono by Hermes Alegre, a visual artist from the Philippines. These works were made possible by the donations of a few families in Vinzons, such as the altar with Italian granite flooring. The church's pulpit was also restored using the wooden materials which survived the fire that gutted it.

The church was inaugurated on June 29, 2015, on the feast of its patron saint, St. Peter the Apostle.

Architecture

Church interior in 2023

The facade is plain and traditional, with a triangular pediment and a flat wall. There are no horizontal bands to separate the facade into storey(s), though a steam of cornice(s) separate the pediment from the wall. ^[4] An arched main portal contrasts against the otherwise plain facade, its smoothness stark against the unplastered masonwork of the rest of the facade. The spacious central niche holds the town patron, surrounded by a florid frame. A square bell tower rises to the church's left. It tapers slightly and a peculiar layering indicates different types of masonry used in its construction. Its campanile windows are protected with decorative balustrades and a squat spire is topped with a cross.

List of Parish priests

Name	Years of Pastorship
Rev. Fr. Juan de Losar, O.F.M. †	1611 - Unknown
Rev. Fr. Manuel Isidro de Vera †	1845 - 1864
Rev. Fr. Antonio Peñalosa †	1865 - 1874
Rev. Fr. Avelino Vinzons †	1874 - 1881
Fr. Carlos Cabido †	1881
Rev. Fr. Isaac Villareal †	1881 - 1882
Fr. Vicente Rojo †	1882 - 1888
Fr. Toribio Martinez †	1882 - 1898
Rev. Fr. Marciano Bamba †	1898 - 1913
Rev. Fr. Salomon Balane †	1913 - 1950
Rev. Msgr. Cayetano Iligan †	1950 - 1971
Rev. Fr. Floro Cabrera †	1972 - 1976
Rev. Fr. Juan P. Chavez †	1976 - 1988
Rev. Fr. Domingo Halum †	1988 - 1990
Rev. Msgr. Quirino G. Parcero, H.P. †	1990 - 1998
Rev. Msgr. Jose A. Rodriguez, Jr., H.P. †	1998 - 2002
Rev. Msgr. Reymundo J. Asis, P.C. †	2002 - 2008
Rev. Fr. Francisco P. Regala, Jr. †	2008 - 2013
Rev. Fr. Augusto Jesus B. Angeles, III †	May 2013 - January 2023
Rev. Fr. Milo Jojo M. Caymo †	January 2023 - February 22, 2024
Rev. Fr. Ronald Anthony P. Timoner, V.G. †	February 22, 2024 - Present

Attached Priest

Name	Years of Pastorship
Rev. Fr. Michael T. Rañeses †	2017 - January 2023
Rev. Msgr. Reymundo J. Asis, P.C. †	2023 - Present

List of Parochial vicars

• Rev. Fr. Quirino G. Parcero † (1962 – 1965)
• Rev. Fr. Efren S. Sanchez † (July 1976 – April 1978)
• Rev. Fr. Ruben Cammayo † (1980s)
• Rev. Fr. Andrei F. Uy † (1996 – 1998)
• Rev. Fr. Rodrigo A. Lazarte † (1998 – 2000s)
• Rev. Fr. Gerardo P. Nemi † (2003 – 2008)
• Rev. Fr. Venancio Rosales † (2005 – 2006)
• Rev. Fr. Luis M. Puno, Jr. † (2008 – 2010s)
• Rev. Fr. Ace D. Baracena † (2013 – 2014)
• Rev. Fr. Rainier M. Abaño † (2014 – 2015)
• Rev. Fr. Donn Corre † (2015 – 2019)
• Rev. Fr. Peter B. Molina † (2019 – 2021)
• Rev. Fr. Michael T. Rañeses † (2017 – January 2023)
• Rev. Fr. Ramiel A. Alvarez † (January 10, 2023 – Present)

Schedule of services

Sacraments

Masses

• Monday to Saturday: 6:00am
• Friday: 6:00am & 6:00pm
• First Friday mass: 5:00am or 6:00am & 6:00pm
• Saturday: 6:00am & 6:00pm (Anticipated Mass)
• Sunday: Morning: 5:30am & 7:30am

Afternoon: 4:00pm (Children's Mass) & 6:00pm

Baptism

• Saturday & Sunday: 10:30am
• Feast Day: June 29 after 9:30am Mass (Bishop's Mass)

Wedding

By appointment at the Parish Office

Devotions

• Angelus prayer: Bell rings at 6:00am, 12:00pm & 6:00pm
• Morning Prayer & Rosary: Monday to Saturday before the 6:00am and 6:00pm Mass
• Sunday Prayer & Rosary (Morning): Before 5:30am & 7:30am
• Afternoon Prayer & Rosary: Sunday before the 4:00pm & 6:00pm Mass
• Prayer & Rosary Monday to Sunday: 6:00pm

First Friday mass

• First Friday Mass: 5:00am and/or 6:00am
• First Saturday Procession: 4:30am before the 6:00am Mass

Novena and Feast day Procession

• Santo Niño Feast day Procession: Every 3rd Sunday of January
• Nazareno Feast day Procession: January 9
• Feast day Procession of St. Peter: June 28 (Before Feast day)
• Novena Mass in honor of St. Peter the Apostle: June 20–28
• Peñafrancia Procession: September 30

References

1. National Historical Institute. Historical Markers:Regions V-XII. Manila: National Historical Institute, 1994.
2. "Fire destroys 400-year-old church in Bicol". GMA News. December 26, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
3. Jonas Cabiles Soltes (December 26, 2012). "Fire razes 400-year-old church in Camarines Norte". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
4. Galende, Pedro G. Philippine Church Facades. Quezon City: Filipiniana.net, 2007.

External links

• Media related to Saint Peter the Apostle Church (Vinzons) at Wikimedia Commons
• Saint Peter the Apostle Church on Facebook
• Official website