Faithful called to visit 15th century Paete Church

The Catholic faithful have until July, 2018 to gain plenary indulgence by visiting the 15thcentury old St. James the Apostle Parish Church, also known as the Paete Church in Laguna.

With the launching of the jubilee year marking the 300th anniversary of the historic church, the faithful are invited to make a spiritual journey to the Paete Church to gain a plenary indulgence.

The Apostolic Penitentiary, through a decree signed by Cardinal Mauro Piacenza on July 12, 2017, bestows a plenary indulgence to all the faithful who will make a pilgrimage to the parish church under the usual conditions of confession, Holy Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father until July, 2018.

A spiritual bond of affinity was granted the church on Feb. 26, 2016 by the Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Monsignor Elisardo Temperan Villaverde, a member of the Cathedral Chapter and chancellor of the archdiocese, officially conveyed the proclamation.

As gifts, the archbishop gave Paete relics from Santiago de Compostela: a silver medal touched and blessed on the tomb of St. James the Apostle and a piece of rock from the Roman mausoleum that keeps the sacred remains of the apostle. These will be permanently enshrined at the church.

Santiago de Compostela in Spain is the third most holy town in Roman Catholicism, next to Jerusalem in Israel, and Rome in Italy.

A new retablo made by a nativeborn sculptor, Justino (Paloy) Cagayat Jr., was also inaugurated during the launching of the jubilee year.

Paete started as a mission station of the Franciscans in 1580 under the leadership of Fray Juan de Placensia. In 1602, it was established as a parish. Historical records show that in 1717, the first stone church was constructed and was entrusted to the patronage of St. James the Apostle.