Religious Sites
Home > Religious and Historical Sites > Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish
Pulong Buhangin, Santa Maria, Bulacan
The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, commonly referred as Nuestra Señora Del Carmen Parish, (Filipino: Parokya ng Birhen ng Bundok ng Karmelo) (Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de la Nuestra Señora del Monte Carmelo) is a Roman Catholic Church situated in Barangay Pulong Buhangin, Santa Maria, in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. It is under the coat of arms and jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Malolos and within the Vicariate of Santa Maria.
Having been one of with rich history of origination, constant miracles and intercessions to her beloved land of Barrio Pulong Buhangin, and by the clamor of its devotees, the image has been granted with episcopal coronation on September 8, 2019. The devotees and parishioners fervently pray and excitingly await for the image to be granted with canonical coronation, and for the parish to be elevated to a diocesan shrine as the center of the brown scapular devotion in the Diocese.
In February 2023, the image was accorded by the local government of Santa Maria with the title “Mother and Queen of Pulong Buhangin” by passing a resolution filed by Hon. Jess De Silva, a municipal councilor. The resolution was based on the image’s popularity among the parishioners and devotees, importance to the historical roots not only for Pulong Buhangin but also for Santa Maria, and several testimonies of miracles through the intercession of the our lady. The resolution was unanimously approved by the municipal council. In symbolizing this historic moment, a badge with the logo of the municipal government was attached to the image.
Barangay Pulong Buhangin celebrates its barrio fiesta every third Sunday of February to commemorate the arrival of the image of our lady, otherwise known as “translacion” to the barrio. The parish also celebrates the memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel every July 16. – Source: WIkipedia
History
The parish was established on November 25, 1940, by the decree of the Archbishop of Manila, Michael J. O’Doherty. This decree separated the barrios of Pulong Buhangin, Quepombo, Catmon, Tigbe, among others from the jurisdiction of La Purisima Concepcion Parish in Santa Maria. The parochial vicar of La Purisima Concepcion Parish at that time, Jose Aguinaldo was installed as its first parish priest.
The present day church was constructed in late 1950s where laborers were paid only five working days and donated their sixth working day to the church. Then after, the Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Rufino Santos blessed the newly constructed church. This is the product of the grace of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and many years of toil and labor of the people of Pulong Buhangin, including generous donors (one of the donors was the archbishop himself). From a small chapel, it underwent renovation through the years into what it is today.
Various improvements were made to the church, through its parish priests, parishioners and devotees who wholeheartedly served the church. In 2007, through the supervision of Elmer Ignacio, the incumbent parish priest at that time, the altar underwent a major renovation for its centennial fiesta and church dedication which took place on February 17, 2008, and November 16, 2008, respectively. The centennial fiesta had the theme: “Pamanang Pananampalataya, Bayang Naglilingkod” (Legacy of faith, a community that serves to God). Centennial markers were placed near the main door and the middle of the church grounds to commemorate the historical event. The relic of Therese of the Child Jesus, a prominent figure in the Carmelite society and one of the doctors of the church, was brought in the parish last 2008.
During the incumbency of Edgardo de Jesus, several improvements were also introduced in the church vicinity, such as the installation of statues of prominent saints connected to the Our Lady of Mount Carmel at the church fence, the church museum, mini-garden and wishing well, audio-visual room, and renovation of adoration chapel, among others.
On March 23, 2016, the parish celebrated its diamond jubilee year. The opening of the year-long celebration was through a Eucharistic celebration, spearheaded by Deogracias Iniguez Jr., Bishop Emeritus of Caloocan, Cirilo Almario Jr., Bishop Emeritus of Malolos, and several clergy of the diocese.
The current altar features a gold-painted bronze statue at the center, depicting a risen Christ with a cross backdrop. This signifies that Christ has triumphed over death, as symbolized by a risen Christ over a cross (interpretation should not be taken out of literal context). The nine-foot tall statue was specially crafted by Sandro Castrillo, a famous sculptor. The altar is flanked by retablos that house the Our Lady on the right and Saint Sebastian on the left. The church also features its old parish logo and maidens offering flowers and fruits installed at the front of the church dome, handcrafted by Philippine National Artist, Napoleon Abueva. – Source: WIkipedia
Municipality of Sta. Maria, Bulacan
J.C. De Jesus St., Poblacion, Sta. Maria, Bulacan
itcsantamaria@gmail.com