BEACHES AND CHURCHES: Lipa

Last June 4, I was invited by Fr. Jay Encarnacion to attend the dedication of his newly constructed parish church and his formal installation as parish priest of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in Agoncillo, Batangas. The original church had been destroyed during the eruption of Taal Volcano in January 2020. I had previously visited the site while the new church was still under construction.

I first met Fr. Jay during the CBCP Plenary Assembly hosted by the Archdiocese of Lipa. When I learned that he had been assigned to Agoncillo, I mentioned that I had already visited his parish. He shared that he was working hard to complete the church’s reconstruction and promised to invite me to the blessing once it was finished.

Almost a year later, I received an invitation—not only for the blessing—but for the solemn dedication of the church and his formal installation as parish priest.

Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish
Agoncillo, Batangas

The image of the Mother of Perpetual Help is a mosaic made in Italy.

Archbi Garcera pouring chrism oil on the altar table, which is the main rite for the dedication. The walls of the church were likewise anointed with the chrism oil.

The incensation of the altar after the anointing.

The side altar retablo

The main retablo

The other side altar retablo

Fr. Jay making his Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity.

For the old post on the Agoncillo Church click here.

This post covers nine churches in seven towns and two cities of the province of Batangas: Taal, Alitagtag, Tingloy, Lobo, San Juan, Mabini, Ibaan, Ilijan in Batangas City and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Lipa.

The Minor Basilica of the St. Martin of Tours, Taal, Batangas

The symbols of a minor basilica: ombrellino (umbrella), tintinnabulum (bell) and the papal seat.

Five priests from the Archdiocese of Lipa were invested as Papal Chaplains on April 10, 2023: Msgrs. Edgardo Pagcaliuangan, Ernesto Mandanas, Jr, Conrado Castillo, Cecilio Arce and Antonio Mendoza graced with the presence of Bp. Pablito Tagura of San Jose, Mindoro, Abp. Gilbert Garcera of Lipa, the Apostolic Nuncio Charles J. Brown, Jose Cardinal Advincula of Manila and Bp. Rey Evangelista of Imus.