Samal Church

Samal Church
Samal Church
Saint Catherine of Siena Parish Church
	The church's facade
	14°46′12.5″N 120°32′30.0″E / 14.770139°N 120.541667°E
Location	Samal, Bataan
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	1596; 428 years ago
Dedication	Catherine of Siena
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	National Historical Landmark
Designated	1939
Architectural type	Church building
Administration
Division	Vicariate of St. Dominic De Guzman
Province	San Fernando
Metropolis	San Fernando
Archdiocese	San Fernando
Diocese	Balanga
Clergy
Archbishop	Florentino G. Lavarias
Bishop(s)	Sede Vacante
Priest(s)	Josue V. Enero

Saint Catherine of Siena Parish Church, commonly known as Samal Church, is a Roman Catholic church located in Samal, Bataan, Philippines. The church is dedicated to the Italian saint Catherine of Siena. The Dominicans constructed the first church in 1596. It belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga.^[1]

The parish has a Catholic population of 11,581, under Titular of St. Catherine of Siena, with Feast day on April 30. Its former Parish Priest is Monsignor Edilfredo Cruz of the^{[citation needed]} Vicariate of St. Dominic de Guzman.^[2] As of June 5, 2023, Fr. Josue V. Enero was assigned as new Parish Priest of the church.^[3]

History[edit]

The Dominicans in 1596 directed the spirituality of Samal. Attacked by Dutch invaders in April 1647, the local garrison of Pampanga under Alejo Aguas ousted the Dutch forces. Rev. Jeromino Belen, O.P. rebuilt the ruined church and the convent. In 1896 the Katipuneros burned the church and convent which were rebuilt by Rev. Justo Quesada in 1903.^[4]

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines declared the church as a national historical landmark in 1939.^[5]