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Mass Schedules |
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Monday - Saturday |
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5:30 AM |
5:30 PM |
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6:15 AM |
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Sunday |
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4:30 AM |
10:00 AM |
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6:30 AM |
5:00 PM |
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8:00 AM |
6:30 PM |
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History
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| 1951 - 2000 |
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| November 12, 1951 |
Father Lino Gonzaga, incumbent parish priest of the cathedral, received his appointment as the Bishop of Palo,
succeeding Bishop Manuel Mascariñas, the first Bishop of Palo, and who, on that very same day, was designated
as Bishop of Tagbilaran. Bishop Gonzaga’s ordination to the episcopacy took place later on January 8, 1952 at
the Ssmo. Rosario Chapel in the University of Sto. Tomas, Manila.
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| 1960 |
Bishop Lino Gonzaga moved his residence, formerly located at the back of the Cathedral church, to a hill located
north of Palo in Brgy. Arado, and overlooking the Maharlika Highway.
With the occupant of the old bishop's residence
now in his new home, this year likewise witnessed the start of the demolition job on the old bishop’s residence,
and subsequently, the initial efforts at renovating the old historic cathedral. Massive fund raising projects were
launched both parishwide and diocesanwide.
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| March 22, 1962 |
Msgr. Cipriano V. Urgel, the incumbent parish priest of the Cathedral and Vicar General of the Diocese of Palo, was
appointed Bishop of Calbayog. His Episcopal consecration would take place three months later, on June 12, 1962 at the
Cathedral of St. Peter, Calbayog City. The latter was also the same date of his canonical installation as the Bishop
of Calbayog, succeeding Bishop Manuel P. del Rosario. |
| February 19, 1967 |
The successor of Bishop Lino Gonzaga to the Diocese of Palo, Bishop Teotimo Pacis, was installed in the Palo Cathedral.
Bishop Pacis, appointed to the See of Palo on November 18, 1966, was consecrated bishop on January 25, 1967 at the San
Vicente de Paul Church in San Marcelino, Manila. |
| June 4, 1973 |
Bishop Cipriano V. Urgel, Bishop of Calbayog, was installed as the fifth Bishop of Palo. He succeeded Bishop Manuel Salvador, who was designated Auxiliary Archbishop of Cebu. |
| April 10-14, 1974 |
"Pamalandong" – or the Reenactment of the passion, trial and death of Christ made its maiden performance. The artistic
sense and the love of art of the people of Palo as well as the support of the municipal government and the church called
this "street passion play" into being. People of varied classes took part in this major production. Father Benjamin Ll.
Sabillo was the Over-all Director; Salvador V. Moron and Andres P. Sevilla were the Production Narrators. The pageant
started on Holy Wednesday and ended on the Good Friday. This would be, from thence, an annual Holy Week spectacle and
would attract pilgrims, tourists and media people to the town.
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| March 31, 1979 |
The second bishop of Palo and former parish priest of the cathedral, Archbishop Lino Gonzaga, celebrated the golden jubilee
anniversary of his priestly ordination in the Palo Cathedral. Assisting him were the entire Palo clergy as well as guest
priests from other parts of the country. Bishop Cipriano Urgel, Bishop of Palo, delivered the homily. The then First Lady of
the Philippines, Mrs. Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, graced the occasion. The country's foremost soprano Conching Rosal sang the
"Lord's Prayer." Also present was Julio Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Cebu. |
| 1981 - 1987 |
These years were considered as the period when a landscaping project on the cathedral grounds was given full attention. Thanks
to the efforts of Father Generoso Nielo, a resident-priest in the cathedral at the time, the cathedral grounds were given a
face-lift. The job meant ripping out decades-old shrubbery, laying sod, planting flowers and shrubs among other things. |
| October 15, 1981 |
The second Episcopal ordination to be celebrated in the cathedral took place when Father Filomeno Bactol, appointed Auxiliary
Bishop of Palo and Titular of Germaniciana, was consecrated bishop through the hands of Archbishop Bruno Torpigliani, Apostolic
Nuncio to the Philippines. Co-consecrating bishops were Bishop Cipriano Urgel (Bishop of Palo) and Bishop Salvador Modesto
(Auxiliary Bishop of Dumaguete). Julio Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Cebu, delivered the homily. |
| November 15, 1982 |
The cathedral bells pealed gloriously to announce that the Diocese of Palo was elevated to an archdiocese. Bishop Cipriano V.
Urgel, the incumbent Bishop of Palo, was appointed as Palo's first archbishop. |
| February 14, 1983 |
The cathedral became the site of the canonical erection of Palo as an archdiocese. Archbishop Urgel, the first to be appointed
Archbishop of the new Metropolitan See, received the pallium from the hands of the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop
Bruno Torpigliani. The homilist during the Pontifical Mass was the Archbishop of Cebu, Archbishop Ricardo Vidal, later cardinal.
Hosts of bishops and archbishops, as well as state officials attended the historic event. |
| December 13, 1985 |
Archbishop Pedro Rosales Dean, appointed Archbishop of Palo on October 12, 1985, was installed as Archbishop of Palo during a colorful
liturgical rite held at the Palo Cathedral. Leading the reception was Bishop Filomeno Bactol, Auxiliary Bishop of Palo, and the whole
clergy of Palo. |
| December 18, 1986 |
The cathedral bells rang to officially announce that the incumbent Parish Priest of the Cathedral Parish Msgr. Leonardo Medroso had been
appointed by the Holy See as Bishop of Borongan. His Episcopal ordination took place on March 17, 1987 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in
Ormoc, his birthplace. |
| November 25, 1987 |
Although three days earlier than the actual date, the Archdiocese of Palo commemorated the 50th year of Palo since it became a diocese in
1937. The jubilee pontifical concelebrated mass was celebrated at the Palo Cathedral presided over by Archbishop Pedro Dean, Archbishop of
Palo. Also present were the suffragan bishops belonging to the Metropolitan See: Bishop Angel Hobayan of Catarman and Bishop Leonardo Medroso
of Borongan. Also present was Bishop Salvador Modesto, Auxiliary Bishop of San Carlos. Bishop-elect Maximiano Cruz, Auxiliary Bishop-designate
of Calbayog, was chosen as the homilist. |
| 1994 - 1996 |
These years were the period of renovation for the cathedral. The old roofing materials were removed to give
way to newer ones; the altar was remodeled, the cathedral was transferred from the side to the center of the
sanctuary and behind the altar, the entire retablo underwent gold-leafing procedures to give it a new face-lift.
Msgr, Benedicto Catilogo, the parish priest at the time, supervised this major church project.
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| November 30, 1996 |
The Palo Cathedral became the site of the promulgation of the Acts and Decrees of the First Archdiocesan Pastoral
Assembly (FAPA). Present in that historic gathering were Archbishop Pedro Dean, the clergy and the lay participants
of the same assembly held on June 18-22, 1996 at the Sacred Heart Seminary, Palo, Leyte.
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| 2000 |
To mark the turn of the millennium, a Millenium Tower, thus it was called, was constructed towards the rear of the cathedral
grounds. This was through the efforts of its pastor, Msgr. Benedicto Catilogo. The glass tower has since become an interesting
feature and landmark in the Cathedral. It presently houses the Jubilee Cross, the cross depicting the Blessed Trinity and which
was brought around the archdiocese during the celebration of the special jubilee year 2000 to welcome the third millennium before
it found its permanent dwelling in this tower.
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