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Immaculate Conception Parish Church (Los Baños)

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Coordinates: 14°10′43″N 121°13′19″E / 14.178733°N 121.221912°E / 14.178733; 121.221912
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Los Baños Church
Immaculate Conception Parish Church
  • Parokya ng Birhen ng Aguas Santas (Filipino)
  • Simbahan ng Parokya ng Immaculada Concepcion (Filipino)
  • Ecclesia Parœcialis de Conceptio Immaculata Beata Virgo Maria, v.d. 'Aguas Santas' in urbs Los Baños (Latin)
Church facade in 2023
Los Baños Church is located in Laguna
Los Baños Church
Los Baños Church
Location in Laguna
Los Baños Church is located in Luzon
Los Baños Church
Los Baños Church
Location in Luzon
Los Baños Church is located in Philippines
Los Baños Church
Los Baños Church
Location in the Philippines
14°10′43″N 121°13′19″E / 14.178733°N 121.221912°E / 14.178733; 121.221912
LocationPoblacion, Los Baños, Laguna
CountryPhilippines
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
StatusParish church
Founded1613
Founder(s)San Pedro Bautista
DedicationImmaculate Conception
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architectural typeChurch building
StyleBaroque
Completed1790
Specifications
MaterialsSand, gravel, cement, wood, and bricks
Administration
ArchdioceseManila
DioceseSan Pablo
DeaneryImmaculate Conception
Clergy
Priest(s)Jose D. Barrion
Assistant priest(s)Steven Lanz Domingo

Immaculate Conception Parish Church is the oldest Roman Catholic church in the municipality of Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Its titular is the Nuestra Señora del Aguas Santas (also Immaculate Conception) and its feast is celebrated every December 8. The church is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of San Pablo.

History

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Church interior in 2019

The town of Los Baños started as a visita of Bay under the Augustinian order with Nicolas de Tolentino as the titular saint.[1] In 1590, Franciscans replaced the Augustinians in their missions with Pedro Bautista, later canonized as San Pedro Bautista. He discovered numerous hot springs in the area which locals called Maynit.[2] He created a public bath he called the Los Baños.[3] After twenty years, the Franciscans established a temporary convent to administer the hot springs that were popular for healing illnesses. A small hospital chapel was built in 1613 in the absence of a church until 1727 dedicated to the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, with the title Aguas Santas.[4][5] It was brought down by fire in 1727.[5] A temporary chapel was built out of nipa and cane which was later destroyed again by fire.[4][5] A big stone church was built in 1790 by Domingo Mateo in its present site.[5] The belfry, sacristy and tile roofing were supervised by Manuel Amat in 1851 and the convent in 1852.[4][5] The convent and bell tower were destroyed during the 1863 earthquake but repairs were made during the administration of Manuel Rodriguez and Gilberto Martin in 1880.[5] It was also used in World War II by the Japanese occupying forces as a garrison and headquarters.

Devotion

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Retablo mayor with the Immaculate Conception in the central niche

The local image of the Virgin Mary under the titular of the Immaculate Conception is known as the Nuestra Señora del Aguas Santas (also Virgin of the Holy Waters).[3] The image of Immaculate Concepcion was said to be miraculous. Some of the miracles includes the wetting of the Virgin’s robes up to the shoulders, amor seco growing from the hems of her garments and mysterious footprints all over the church leading to her altar.[6] Due to the popular devotion to the Virgin and miracles attributed to her, the church is currently petitioning to become a diocesan shrine.

Notes

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  1. ^ Huerta 1865, p. 152
  2. ^ "Laguna's old churches await pilgrims". Philippine Daily Inquirer. March 24, 2005.
  3. ^ a b Cinco, Maricar (October 15, 2011). "'Healing bath' also a matter of faith". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Huerta 1865, p. 153
  5. ^ a b c d e f National Historical Institute 1993, p. 63
  6. ^ "Los Banos Church". Retrieved June 13, 2014.

Bibliography

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