THE CATHEDRAL CHURCHES OF URDANETA AND LINGAYEN-DAGUPAN AND OTHER SIGHTS IN PANGASINAN

The province of Pangasinan covers such a wide territory that ecclesiastically it is divided into three jurisdictions: the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan and the Dioceses of Urdaneta and Alaminos.  Lingayen- Dagupan was created a diocese in May 19, 1928. It was elevated to an Archdiocese in February 16, 1963 with five suffragan dioceses: Alaminos, Cabanatuan, San Fernando (La Union), San Jose (Nueva Ecija) and Urdaneta.  The diocese of Alaminos was created and erected in January 12, 1985 comprising 14 municipalities of the western part of the province of Pangasinan. The Diocese of Urdaneta, comprising 17 municipalities in the eastern  part of the province of Pangasinan, was likewise created and erected on the same date as Alaminos.

This post will feature the Cathedral churches of Urdaneta and Lingayen-Dagupan. Also included are the Lay Formation Center (Layforce) of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, the Mary Help of Christians College Seminary, the Annunciation of the Lord Parish Church which is just within the same compound of the Layforce and College Seminary, the new Mary Help of Christians Theology Seminary, the Sierra Vista Beach Resort in Nibaliw Vidal, San Fabian and the parish church of Villasis. 

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHEDRAL

Urdaneta, Pangasinan

Founded: 1858

The altar table. 

The Cathedra of the Bishop. 

There was no ceiling yet of the Cathedral when we took these pictures way back in 2009. 

The tabernacle.

ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST CATHEDRAL PARISH

Dagupan City

Founded: 1614

The altar retablo features the crucifix with Mary and St. John the Evangelist standing by the foot and surrounded by bas relief  of different scenes in the life of Jesus. 

Statue of St. John the Evangelist. 

Stained glass windows depicting scenes from the life of Jesus. 

Inside the Cathedral with a worker cleaning the helicopter-like ceiling fan. 

One of the crosses around the Cathedral, a sign that the Cathedral has been dedicated. 


On a recent visit in April 2024, I noticed that their were already paintings on the ceilings of the Cathedral.

A door panel with carved bas relief depicting some Biblical scenes. 

The archbishop's residence is just behind the Cathedral. 

LAY FORMATION CENTER

Dagupan

A giant size statue of Jesus at the Lay Formation Center in Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan. 

The lobby of the Layforce. 

Abp. Soc Villegas, the Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan at the lobby of the Layforce. 

A corridor in the Layforce. 

The chapel at the Layforce. 

Recently the ceilings acquired some painting of Biblical scenes. 

Different wooden art carvings of Abp. Oscar Cruz on display at the lobby of the Lay Formation Center in Dagupan. 

Art carvings of Abp. Cruz. 

MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS COLLEGE SEMINARY

Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City

ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD PARISH CHURCH

Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City

This parish church is just found within the compound of the Lay Formation Center and the Mary Help of Christians College Seminary. 

Simbahan Ya Bato at the Annunciation of the Lord Parish

 

MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS THEOLOGY SEMINARY

Dagupan City

The altar retablo is a mosaic featuring different biblical personages encircling the Crucifix with Mary and St. John the Evangelist which is at the center. 

SAN FABIAN, PANGASINAN

After the Easter recollection of the CBCP Staff, we went to the Sierra Vista Beach Resort in Nibaliw Vidal, San Fabian where we stayed overnight. 

The cottages in the Sierra Vista Beach Resort. 

VILLASIS, PANGASINAN

On our way back to Manila, we passed by the town of Villasis where we made a stopover at their market to buy some dried fish and other goods. 

ST. ANTHONY ABBOT CHURCH

Villasis, Pangasinan

Founded: 1763

The town of Villasis already belongs to the Diocese of Urdaneta. 

Farm products at the Villasis public market. 

Dried seafood products and vegetables being sold at the Villasis public market.