St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral: A Historical Landmark in Dumaguete

 
Wazzup Pilipinas!

Dumaguete city has its own share of historic structures and one of these is the St. Catherine of Alexandria Church or more popularly known as the Dumaguete Cathedral. It is the main reason why the nearby Quezon Park is crowded during Sundays. It is the main Roman Catholic Church in the region and it is the seat of the Diocese of Dumaguete.

Our Dumaguete tour brings us to this famous church or cathedral of Dumaguete, and likewise to the bell tower or belfry located at its side. The Dumaguete Cathedral Church is located along Perdices Street, fronting Quezon Park where the Dumaguete Tourism Office can also be found.

 

Above the four pillars which hold the entrance gate of the Cathedral Church area are statues of Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Statues of Saints Peter and Paul can be found on the church’s facade.

Dumagueteños believe that their patroness St. Catherine of Alexandria can provide miracles giving them a good source of reason to keep on smiling and celebrating life. The church is regularly visited by devotees even when there is no mass. These devotees say their thanks, praises and ask for forgiveness from the saints.

With a gilded and ornate altar, high ceilings and hanging chandeliers, the church is a grandiose display of traditional European architecture.

The statue of Nuestra Senora Catalina De Alexandria is shown below.

The photo below informs us that the church itself is also an antiquity. It claims that it is the oldest stone church in Negros. It says it was originally built in 1754 to 1776 and was reconstructed in 1885 and was extended with present facade in 1936.

Located far on the church’s left side is its old bell tower, the Campanario de Dumaguete, one of the four watchtowers that once existed in the city.

The bell tower was said to have been used by the people as a warning device against invaders during the 1800’s. The bell tower is made out of coral stones with a pentagonal bell house topped with a red dome. You can find a small Pieta sculpture at the left, and a grotto dedicated to the Our Lady or Lourdes at the right of its base.

Dumaguete was a place whose inhabitants were always threatened by Muslim marauders in search of slaves. The Bell Tower was built to forewarn the locals of any incoming danger. It is the oldest bell tower in the Visayas.

 

Here I found myself saying a little prayer to whoever is listening upstairs.