What is a parish church?

A parish church is simply a local church community; a community of faith that exists to meet
the spiritual and temporal needs of its members. While sometimes the term “parish church” is
used, it’s often just the term “parish” used to describe a group of people who attend a
particular church. For example, “the church parish frequently gathers for dinner following
sunday service.” Or “the parish of the baptist church has grown in recent years.”
A parish church is a common term used in both the catholic and protestant (largely lutheran,
methodist, congregationalist, and presbyterian) churches.
While, many times, parishes are defined by boundaries or territories, they don’t always need to
be. They can be large or small; urban or rural. Many parishes can be found within the same
territory. To be a true parish, the pastor must exercise the ministry in his own name.

The history of the parish church

The term “parish” originates from the new testament’s greek word paroikia, which means
“sojourner,” or “traveler.” While its origins are unclear, it is presumed that it refers to christians
as spiritual sojourners who are living in the kingdom of god on earth while at the same time
looking forward to the heavenly kingdom.

In the earliest days of the church, parishes were defined as an entire population of christians
within a town and under one bishop. When christianity spread to europe in the fourth century,
parishes began to take shape and become organized into units within a village. Each parish had
its own priest and was organized under a bishop who had jurisdiction over the nearby city.

The parish structure was cemented in the 16 th century with the council of trent – arguably one
of the most significant happenings in christian history and certainly one of the most important
movements in the catholic counter-reformation (the catholic church’s response to the growing
protestant reformation). With a renewed commitment to reinforcing catholic beliefs, bishops at
trent were called upon to more clearly define parishes and the territories they represented.

Turley, r. (2022, april 21). What is a parish church? Christian bible colleges and universities
online. Retrieved october 23, 2022, from https://christianministryedu.org/faq/what-is-a-
parish-church/

Brief history

A parish church (or parochial church) in christianity is the church which acts as the
religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the
parish church may play a significant role in community activities, often allowing its
premises to be used for non-religious community events. The church building reflects
this status, and there is considerable variety in the size and style of parish churches.
Many villages in europe have churches that date back to the middle ages, but all periods
of architecture are represented.
Roman catholic church

Each diocese (administrative unit, headed by a bishop) is divided into parishes.

Normally, a parish comprises all catholics living within its geographically defined area.
Within a diocese, there can also be overlapping parishes for catholics belonging to a
particular rite, language, nationality, or community.

Each parish has its own central church called the parish church, where religious services
take place. The parish church is the center of most catholics' spiritual life since it is there
that they receive the sacraments. On sundays and perhaps also daily, mass is celebrated
by a priest resident in the parish. Confession is made available and perhaps vespers in
the larger or more progressive parishes. There are also laity-led activities and social
events in accordance with local culture and circumstances.

Roman catholics are not obliged to worship only at the parish church to which they
belong, but they may for convenience or taste attend services at any roman catholic
church. However, their parish church is the one to which the members of the parish
must go for baptisms and weddings, unless permission is given by the parish priest (us
'pastor') for celebrating those sacraments elsewhere. One sign of that is that the parish
church is the only one to have a baptismal font.
Some larger parishes or parishes that have been combined under one parish priest may
have two or more such churches, or the parish may be responsible for chapels (or
chapels of ease) located at some distance from the mother church for the convenience
of distant parishioners.

Wikipedia contributors. (2022, october 9). Parish church. Wikipedia. Retrieved october 23,
2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/parish_church
Sta. Rosa De Lima Parish

History

Sta. Rosa de lima parish of the roman catholic archdiocese of tuguegarao was established on
1950. It is located in brgy. Annafunan west, city of tuguegarao, province of cagayan. The parish
fiesta is celebrated every 23rd day of august.

Japitana, j. (2022b, september 26). Sta. Rosa de lima parish - annafunan west, tuguegarao city,
cagayan. Retrieved october 23, 2022, from https://www.parishph.com/2022/06/sta-
rosa-de-lima-parish-annafunan-west.html

St. Dominic De Guzman Parish Cataggaman

History

St. Dominic de guzman parish of the roman catholic archdiocese of tuguegarao was established
on 1943. It is located in brgy. Cataggaman nuevo, city of tuguegarao, province of cagayan. The
parish fiesta is celebrated every 8th day of august.

Japitana, j. (2022, september 26). St. Dominic de guzman parish - cataggaman nuevo,
tuguegarao city, cagayan. Retrieved october 23, 2022, from
https://www.parishph.com/2022/06/st-dominic-de-guzman-parish-cataggaman.html
San Jacinto Ermita Church

History

St. Hyacinth church (san jacinto church) or the ermita de piedra de san jacinto (stone chapel of
san jacinto) is an elevated historic chapel established in 1604, 100 years older than the sts.
Peter and paul cathedral. American soldiers during the philippine-american war used it as
headquarters in 1899. St hyacinth is the patron saint of the city whose feast is celebrated every
august 15 coinciding with the pav-vurulun festival. The oldest brick structure in the city is the
first parochial building built by the dominican fathers in tuguegarao. The current structure is the
latest in a process of rebuilding beginning in 1724, in 1892 after it was destroyed by an
earthquake and reconstruction after world war ii. The chapel was not heavily damaged during
the war and as a result retains its original wooden retablo which dates back to the 18th
century.

City investment promotion center. (n.d.). San jacinto ermita church. Retrieved october 23,
2022, from http://www.rdc2.gov.ph/invest/tuguegarao/index.php/investment-
opportunities/tourism/historicsites/12-san-jacinto-ermita-church
Our Lady Of Fatima Parish Church

History

The jubilee of the archdiocese has many happy memories to rejoice with the lord- among
others, the emergence of our lady of fathima parish–which up until 1950’s was a mere sitio
with a few households. Now, as a parish., it comprises portions of barangay camaman-an and
indahag. Its parish church grounds of about 5,000 square meters was generously donated by
the heirs of the late luis borja and carmen chaves. It had for its chapel a modest structure of 8
by 12 meters. When the community was elevated into a sub-parish pastoral council then
headed by mr. Manny magto spearheaded the expansion of the chapel (12 meters by 16
meters) with the help of mrs. Lim of frankton hardware and gov. And mrs. Rosauro dongallo
among others. The chapel had for its patroness our lady of fatima whose feast is set on the first
saturday of february but was later on moved to may 13th.

History. (2012, april 24). Our lady of fatima parish. Retrieved october 23, 2022, from
https://camamananparish.wordpress.com/history/
Sto. Niño Parish - Archdiocesan Shrine Of The Sto. Niño - San Gabriel

History

Archdiocesan shrine and parish of sto. Niño of the roman catholic archdiocese of tuguegarao
was established on 1996. It is located in the city of tuguegarao, province of cagayan. The
parish fiesta is celebrated every sunday after the baptism of our lord (january).

Japitana, j. (2022a, september 26). Archdiocesan shrine and parish of sto. Niño - tuguegarao
city, cagayan. Retrieved october 23, 2022, from
https://www.parishph.com/2022/06/archdiocesan-shrine-and-parish-of-sto-nino-
tuguegarao-cagayan.html
Characteristics

Elegant
Expressed serenity
Alleviating ambience
Unified

Parts and its function

Nave

The nave is that part of a church set apart for the laity, as distinguished from the chancel,
choir, and presbytery, which are reserved for the choir and clergy. The separation of the two
areas may be effected by screens or parapets, called cancelli.
Aisles

Although the aisle area may be used for seating, especially in more recent times, it was
originally intended as a path to seats or to the front of the church. Today, the word also refers
to any passageway that gives access to seating in a church, theatre, or other public structure.

Altar

The functions of the altar have remained the same in christian churches down the centuries.
During mass, it serves as a table to hold a copy of the bible and the consecrated bread and
wine that are distributed to worshipers. One to three cloths cover the altar, and a cross and
candles may be placed on or near it.