CHURCHES IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PALO: BURAUEN VICARIATE

 Burauen Vicariate

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish

Burauen, Leyte 6516

Founded:1600

Feastday: December 8

The Church of Burauen had its altar first changed to a simple retablo. When Yolanda came, it damaged the roofing. Plans were made to rebuild a bigger and taller church. The roof has been finished including two rows of Milanequese-like spires on both sides of the church. The facade is still being constructed and the old ceiling inside has not yet been demolished to reveal the new higher roof. 

St. Joseph Parish

Dagami, Leyte 6515

Founded: 1710

Feastday: May 27

By 2011 Dagami had a new facade. It did not suffer structural damage during Yolanda except for some blown roof panels. A new choirloft was constructed after and a repainting job of the facade including some gold leafing at the altar was made.

St. Pascual Baylon Parish

Guinarona, Dagami, Leyte 6515

Founded: 1971

Feastday: May 17

The noticeable change from 2004 to 2008 was  not only the change of color of the church facade but also the change of the altar from  a concrete white concrete column niche with the tabernacle at the center to a wooden retablo with the statue of the miraculous patron saint, St. Pascual Baylon encased in glass  on top of the tabernacle. When Yolanda struck the half part of the roof was damaged. The other half of the roof in the main nave  still made of Quonset hut did not suffer any damage. When reconstruction was done, a new belfry was put up to pair it with the right side. A new concrete retablo, altar table and lecterns with gold leafing including new church pews were put in place.

St. Roch Parish

Patoc, Dagami, Leyte 6515

Founded: 1996

Feastday: last Saturday of August

When Patoc was created a Mission Station, reconstruction of the chapel started right away that by 2004 there was already an enlarged church. By 2008, the roofing was demolished to give way to a taller one which by 2012 was already finished. A new wooden altar retablo was created to match the new high ceiling. Then, a new construction of the facade right away took place in 2013 with a rose window  near the pediment.  When Patoc was finally created a parish in 2019 there was already a new belfry on the right side and the retablo was likewise embellished with gold leaf.

Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish

La Paz, Leyte 6508

Founded: 1918

Feastday: April 28

By 2011 the Church of La Paz was enlarged with the construction of the side wings. Construction of a concrete retablo was soon started replacing the crucifix mounted on  dark tiles as the background.

Last April 27, 2025, I celebrated the vigil mass for the parish fiesta of La Paz. The church altar had more improvements and embellishments.  Small retablos of both sides of the main retablo were added to give a fuller look at the altar. Side altars were also added. 

Side altars were added. 

St. Anne Parish

Sta. Ana, La Paz, Leyte 6508

Founded: 1997

Feastday: July 26

By 2015 a big church was  already being constructed around the old chapel. Services continued inside the small chapel while the construction was going on. By 2017, the old chapel was already demolished to give way to the bigger church.

St. Anthony of Padua Parish

Tabontabon, Leyte 6504

Founded: 1956

Feastday: June 13

When typhoon Yolanda came, the fast deteriorating church of Tabontabon was totally demolished with only its belfry left standing.  The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) decided that for the twenty churches they helped build in the archdiocese, one totally destroyed church will be chosen to be built by a nationally known construction firm. Tabontabon was the one chosen. A church more than twice its original size was constructed by the DMCI. Since the funds passed through the office, I had to constantly monitor the development of the construction, inspecting it even on bike from Palo. After the church was blessed and consecrated by the CBCP President, then Abp. Villegas, Abp. Du proclaimed the church as the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Anthony  in 2016 in order to attract more devotees and pilgrims.

St. Roch Parish,

Julita, Leyte 6506

Founded: 1967

Feastday: August 12

There has been no structural change in the church except that of the altar. 

San Isidro Labrador Mission Station,

Maghubas, Burauen, Leyte 6516

Founded: 2004

Feastday: May 15

When Maghubas was created a Mission Station in 2004 there was only a small barangay chapel. Soon a bigger lot was found near the highway and construction of a new church right away began.