A Vicariate is a group of nearby parishes within a Diocese/Archdiocese. A Vicariate is headed by a Vicar Forane which is a Parish Priest within the Vicariate and appointed by the Bishop of the Diocese/Archdiocese. A Vicariate is usually named after the oldest or well known Parish within the area or territory. An Example of a Vicariate is the Vicariate of St. Augustine in the Diocese of Malolos (Province of Bulacan). The Vicariate of St. Augustine is composed of 12 Parishes which covers the municipality of Baliuag, Pulilan and some area of Bustos, San Rafael, Angat and Dona Remedios Trinidad. The Vicariate is named after St. Augustine Parish the oldest Parish Church in the area which is located in Brgy. Poblacion, Municipality of Baliuag, Province of Bulacan. The current Vicar Forane is Rev. Msgr. Manuel B. Villaroman, P.C. which is also the Parish Priest of Sta. Monica de Angat Parish (located in Angat, Bulacan), one of the Parishes within the Vicariate of St. Augustine. Click here to ...
Sundays in Agoo, La Union have always been marked by the sound of church bells, and at the center of it all is non other than one of the most visited pilgrimage towns in Northern Luzon, the Minor Basilica of our Lady of Charity, dedicated to its powerful patroness, Nuestra Señora de Caridad (Our Lady of Charity). Photo reference: Innocencio, G. & Malabanan, J (Pintakasi) Tracing the Roots of Our Lady of Charity The original church looked nothing like the one we see today. It was first built in 1578 using nipa and bamboo. However, in 1892, the church was tragically destroyed by an earthquake.. It was then rebuilt in 1893 but was later demolished and replaced in 1975. The construction of the current church began on September 8, 1975, and was completed in 1978. The basilica is designed in Mexican-Baroque style. It has two distinct bell towers on either side of the facade. The right tower is a bell gable, while the left is a four-level hexagonal tower. The bell gable tower was dedi...