THE DIOCESE OF URDANETA, PANGASINAN

            During the Holy Week of 2024, I embarked on a pilgrimage to Pangasinan. The province is composed of  three distinct dioceses: Urdaneta, Alaminos, and the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. Departing from Manila in the afternoon after concelebrating in the Palm Sunday Mass at the venerable Manila Cathedral, I ventured forth alone, a departure from my usual travels.

Arriving at the quiet Bishop’s Residence of Urdaneta just past five in the evening, following a leisurely two-and-a-half-hour drive from the historic walls of Intramuros, I was graciously welcomed by Bishop Jack Jose, my hospitable host for the duration of my stay. Made aware of the purpose of my pilgrimage, Bishop Jack generously assigned one of his deacons to accompany me as I explored the towns and their parish churches nestled within his diocese.

The Diocese of Urdaneta encompasses 16 towns and one city. The towns are remarkably close-knit, with an average distance of merely six kilometers between them. Remarkably, even the farthest town was a mere 17 kilometers from its nearest neighbor, facilitating a comprehensive journey through all the towns in just one day. Starting from the Cathedral of Urdaneta I visited all the towns under the diocese in the following sequence: Sison, Pozorrubio, Binalonan, San Manuel, Asingan,  Santa Maria, Tayug, Natividad, San Nicolas, San Quintin, Umingan, Balungao, Rosales, Santo Tomas, Alcala, Villasis. By past five in the afternoon we were already back at the bishop’s residence.  One of the challenges encountered when visiting churches during the Holy Week is the tradition of covering statues, which unfortunately obscures the intricate beauty of the altar retablos, depriving visitors of the full visual experience.

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral
Urdaneta, Pangasinan

        Urdaneta became a town on January 8, 1858 when it was separated from Binalonan. 

 

With Bp. Jack Jose of Urdaneta and Fr. Dann Philip Soriano, my student in Canon Law in UST. Concelebrated at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday. Besides the renewal of priestly promises, the mass was also the occasion for the recommissioning of all the lectors, commentators and lay eucharistic ministers of the diocese. 

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish
Sison, Pangasinan

        Sison began as a plantation established in 1841 in a barrio of San Fabian called Bolaen. It was later renamed as Alava as established as an independent municipality in 1868. It was a visita of San Fabian from 1868 to 1897 until erection as a parish in 1897. In 1918 it was renamed Sison, after the first provincial governor of Pangasinan when the towns of Alava and Artacho were consolidated together. 

With the parish priest of Sison, Fr. Noel Bulisan (l) and Rev. James Hantsch who was my driver when I went around the towns under the Diocese of Urdaneta.

St. Jude Thaddeus Parish
Pozorrubio, Pangasinan

        The town was originally known as Claris. It was founded as visita of San Jacinto in 1834 under the Dominicans. It was established as an independent town on November 3, 1869 and renamed Pozorrubio in 1870. The Parish was erected on September 16, 1879. It is the only town under the diocese of Urdaneta that speaks predominantly in Pangasinense. The rest are Ilocano-speaking towns. 

The Stations of the Cross in Pozorrubio

Holy Child Parish 
Binalonan, Pangasinan

        Binalonan was founded as a barrio of Manaoag by the Dominicans in 1834. It became an independent town in 1838. However, the oldest book in the parish dates back to 1810.  

Their oldest parochial register dates back to 1810 which is a Book of Burial.

With the parish priest of Binalonan, Fr. Richard Abalos (l) and Rev. James. 

St. Bartholomew Parish
San Manuel, Pangasinan

The church was under renovation when I visited it. The whole church was filled with scaffoldings. 

St. Louis Bertrand Parish
Asingan, Pangasinan

Our Lady of the Pillar Parish
Santa Maria, Pangasinan

        Santa Maria was established as a town separate from Tayug on September 6, 1875. The parish was erected on January 16, 1890. 

St. Patrick Parish
Tayug, Pangasinan

        Tayug was founded as a mission by the Augustinians in 1742, and as a town in 1759 under the province of Nueva Ecija. In 1840 the town was ceded to Pangasinan and its parish was entrusted to the Diocese of Nueva Segovia in 1841. It was accepted by the Dominicans as a vicarage in 1845. 

Our Lady's Nativity Parish
Natividad, Pangasinan

St. Nicholas of Tolentino Parish
San Nicolas, Pangasinan

        San Nicolas was founded by the Augustinians as a visita of Tayug in 1742. It was accepted by the Dominicans still as a visita in 1841. It became an independent town and parish in 1846. 

St. Paschal Baylon Parish
San Quintin, Pangasinan

Immaculate Conception Parish
Umingan, Pangasinan

        Umingan was a former visita of Tayug known as Lango-lango. In 1851 the patron was changed from San Dionisio el Areopagita to The Immaculate Conception. It was relocated to a place by the Umingan River, adopting this name, and annexed to Lupao in 1832. It was founded as a separate parish in 1843 under the Franciscans. 

St. Joseph Parish
Balungao, Pangasinan

        Balungao was a former visita of Tayug. It was founded as a town in 1815 and as a parish in 1830 under the Franciscans. 

St. Anthony of Padua Parish
Rosales, Pangasinan

        The parish was established in 1853 under the Franciscans and renamed Rosales. 

St. Thomas Aquinas Parish
Santo Tomas, Pangasinan

Holy Cross Parish
Alcala, Pangasinan

        Alcala was a former barrio of Bayambang named Dangla. It was founded as an independent town on September 16, 1879. The parish was erected on March 2, 1881 and was accepted by the Dominicans as a vicaria. 

St. Anthony Abbot Parish
Villasis, Pangasinan

        Was accepted as a vicaria by the Dominicans  in 1763 under the name Pandoyocan. Suppressed as a parish in 1773 due to lack of personnel. It was restored in 1841 but under its present name. 

In the evening of Holy Monday after visiting all the parish churches of the Diocese of Urdaneta, Fr. Franklin (second from left), the rector of the Cathedral invited me for dinner at the Amare Italian restaurant at a mall in Calasiao together with my companions during my visits, Rev. James Hantsch (r) who was my driver and Bro. Bong (r).