16 February 2011 – Dagupan City. The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan celebrated today its 48th year as an archdiocese in a solemn mass presided by Msgr. Socrates B. Villegas, DD, the Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan with Msgr. Renato P. Mayugba, DD, the Auxiliary and the priests of the Archdiocese at the Sanctuary de San Juan Evangelista. Parishioners from the different parishes of the Archdiocese attended the solemn mass which began at 12:15 PM.
In the same celebration, the former Cathedral of the Archdiocese was formally declared as a SANCTUARIO in honor of St. John the Evangelist. The new Sanctuario de San Juan Evangelista is the restored Church located along Zamora St., Dagupan City.
In his homily, Archbishop Villegas reflected on the meaning of the archdiocese and how the church of Lingayen-Dagupan is called an “archdiocese”. He mentioned that “we are an archdiocese because of we are a community of life, celebrating the Eucharist; a community for the poor and the young; a community of mission called to become missionaries and evangelizers.
Erection of the Diocese of Lingayen
The Diocese of Lingayen was erected on May 19, 1928, comprising the entire province of Pangasinan. In 1954, because of the destruction brought on Lingayen by World War 11, the See was transferred to Dagupan, and the diocese is now known as the Diocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. On January 12,1985 the western part of Pangasinan was made the Diocese of Alaminos, and the eastern part the Diocese of Urdaneta, both dioceses becoming suffragans of Lingayen-Dagupan along with the dioceses of Cabanatuan, San Jose (Nueva Ecija) and San Fernando (La union). On 16 February 1963 the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese.
The Sanctuario de San Juan Evangelista
The present Santuario de San Juan Evangelista was the Cathedral from the late Archbishop Mariano A. Madriaga transferred the seat of the Diocese from Lingayen to Dagupan in 1954. It was the Cathedral up until 1972 when the new Cathedral along Burgos st. was built. However, the official decree transferring the seat of the Cathedral from the “old” to the “new” Cathedral in 1972 was overlooked.
The Most Rev. Socrates B. Villegas, DD upon his succession was Metropolitan Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan sought to clarify the question which is truly the Cathedral of the Archdiocese. It was then discovered that the official decree transferring the seat of the Cathedral from the “old” to the “new” was not communicated to the Holy See. Thus, on the 27 December 2010, the official proclamation of the transfer of the Metropolitan Cathedral from the church in Zamora St. to the one along Burgos St. was made.
The Nature of a Sanctuario
The Sanctuario is distinct from the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. The Cathedral is the cathedra or seat of the Archbishop of the Lingayen-Dagupan and the mother church of the archdiocese.
The Sanctuario de San Juan Evangelista is constituted as a special “sanctuary” which shall promote a special devotion to St. John the Evangelist and a “shrine” for the Blessed Sacrament where adoration can be held regularly.
Msgr. Renato P. Mayugba, DD, the Auxiliary of Lingayen-Dagupan, is the Rector of the Sanctuario de San Juan Evangelista.
Liturgical Celebrations and Services
A daily mass is celebrated at 12:15 PM . Parochial liturgical services such as funerals, weddings, and baptisms are not ordinarily held at the Sanctuario unless pastoral necessity so demands it. However, the Sanctuario accepts jubilees and anniversaries, such as priestly and wedding anniversaries, and other similar celebrations.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is made available to the faithful everyday at 11:45 AM.
The Sanctuario will occasionally offer activities such as retreats, studies and conferences that would nurture the faithful towards a greater devotion to St. John the Evangelist.
Adoration and Benediction with Evening Prayers
Msgr. Renato P. Mayugba, DD announced to the congregation present the schedule of the regular Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament which is to be celebrated from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM every Monday.
Every First Monday,Vicariate I takes charge of the Adoration and Benediction (BEC, Catechists and Youth, Adorers of the Holy Trinity, Adoration Nocturna and Holy Name Society).
Every Second Monday, Vicariate II takes charge (BEC, Catechists and Youth, Divine Mercy and Charismatic Communities and other covenanted groups).
Every Third Monday, Vicariate III takes charge (BEC, Catechists and Youth, Apostleship of Prayer, Family and Life including CFC, CF, WME).
Every Fourth Monday, Vicariate IV takes charge (BEC, Catechists and Youth, Daughters of Mary Immaculate, Knights of Columbus and Lay Ministers).
The seminarians of the Mary Help of Christians College Seminary, Bonuan Gueset, takes charge of the Adoration every Fifth Monday.
