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The three antique bells of the old pueblo of Echague are now displayed on a plinth in front of the newly constructed parish office of the Saint Joseph the Worker Church. The oldest of the three, with limited marks, is dated 1795. The other two bells were both casted in 1890 and dedicated to San Jose and Nuestra Señora del Rosario. Camarag, the old site of Echague and a one-time capital of Nueva Vizcaya province, has an existing ruin of an old church. During my research, I was told that after the Camarag Church crumbled, the bell was transferred to the Echague Roman Catholic Church. Camarag is now a barangay of the neighboring San Isidro town.
Echague Church
a testament from a facebook page : https://web.facebook.com/isabelaakingprobinsya?__tn__=-UC*F
Fr. Pedro Salgado, the Dominican writer, in volume I of his "Cagayan Valley and Eastern Cordillera (1581-1898)," wrote that Echague town in Isabela used to be called Camarag, the name of a big tree then common in the place. The city was founded in 1752 and ecclesiastically placed under the patronage of St. Joseph on May 12, 1753.
History says missionaries wanted to transfer the town from the banks of the Cagayan River to the Ganano River 10 kilometers away. The people rebelled because the soil was more fertile along the Cagayan River. But in 1776, they were forcibly transferred.
A small church was built for St. Joseph the Worker. People loved the church. When Fr. Patrick Pua became the parish priest two years ago, the construction of a bigger church began.
On March 19, Bayombong Bishop Ramon Villena blessed the new church. Hundreds of parishioners brought vigil candles and offered P20 each to help complete the construction. The church is not yet finished but people came to show their appreciation and support. I felt very blessed to be there.
Maria Bareng, 79, knelt before the image of St. Joseph to show her love for the saint. She told me a ìspiritî guided her to this.
Bishop Villena anointed and incensed the new altar table donated by former Echague Mayor and CWL (Catholic Women's League) president Anna Benita Gumpal-Balauag, aunt of my friend Jojo Silvestre.
Father Patrick and other priests anointed the walls of the altar. The cathedral-like ceiling was impressive. Stained glass windows depicted the life of Jesus with Mary and Joseph.
The pilgrim image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia from Naga made the occasion special. She was fetched from the basilica in Naga by Rev. Jeffrey Escorpes and Jong Mascariñas. Jong sang the Litany of Saints in Ilocano during the blessing of the altar. Fr. Patrick promised the Virgin Mary he would bring her image in her different titles during the feast day of St. Joseph as a way of asking her protection from accidents and tragedies. Fr. Patrick made this promise when Dionisio Panganiban, Sr., a church worker, suffered a heart attack and died in 2005 in front of the church. Last year, Fr. Patrick brought the pilgrim image of Our Lady of Manaoag from Pangasinan.
Association
The St. Joseph of Echague Parishioners' Association is helping build the new church on a 2,000-sq m area in a two-hectare property. It is a very big church that can accommodate thousands of people. Walter Uy donated the new tabernacle.
On the two-ha property stands St. Joseph Academy. There are plans to build a pastoral center where retreats can be held and religious organizations can meet.
source: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/.../Bigger_church_for...
Source: Mr. Philip Ceasar Canaria Cadabuna (Echague's Official Photographer)
Source: Mr. Philip Ceasar Canaria Cadabuna (Echague's Official Photographer)
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