The Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando City, Pampanga is the seat of the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines

Philippines

The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

.

In 1755 the first structure of wood and thatch was built on this site by the Augustinian friars under the patronage of San Fernando III

Ferdinand III of Castile

Saint Ferdinand III, T.O.S.F., was the King of Castile from 1217 and León from 1230. He was the son of Alfonso IX of León and Berenguela of Castile. Through his second marriage he was also Count of Aumale. He finished the work done by his maternal grandfather Alfonso VIII and consolidated the...

, King of Castile

Kingdom of Castile

Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...

. Fray Sebastian Moreno, O.S.A. was its first cura parroco. On October 17, 1757, townsfolk petitioned the governor-general for exemptions from tribute to enable them to build the church and convent. It was transferred to the care of secular priests in 1788. The construction of the present church started during the same year under the supervision Fr. Manuel Canlas, its first secular cura parroco, and a committee composed of the principales of the town. They were led by gobernadorcillo Bernabe Pamintuan. Construction was completed in 1808. The church was rededicated to the Assumption

Assumption of Mary

According to the belief of Christians of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and parts of the Anglican Communion and Continuing Anglicanism, the Assumption of Mary was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her life...

 of Our Lady.

President Emilio F. Aguinaldo and his cabinet viewed the Philippine Revolutionary Army from the windows of the convento on October 9, 1898. On orders of Gen. Antonio Luna, the Philippine Revolutionary Army burned the church and convento on May 4, 1899. It was destroyed by fire again in 1939, and later restored by architect Fernando H. Ocampo.

In 1948 the church was elevated to Cathedral when it became the seat of the Diocese of San Fernando, canonically created by Pope Pius XII

Pope Pius XII

The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....

. In 1975, the diocese was elevated by Pope Paul VI

Pope Paul VI

Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...

, to Archdiocese of San Fernando. Its first bishop was Monsignor Cesar Ma. Guerrero, D.D. He was followed by the Most Reverend Emilio A. Cinense, D.D., who became its first archbishop. He was succeeded by the Most Reverend Oscar V. Cruz, D.D. in 1978. The third and current archbishop of San Fernando is the Most Reverend Paciano B. Aniceto, D.D.

Rectors

Very Rev. Msgr. Prudencio David, VG 1918-1952.
Very Rev. Msgr. Bartolome Zabala 1952-1958.
Very Rev. Msgr. Pedro Puno, VG 1958-1969.
Very Rev. Msgr. Diosdado Victorio, VG 1969-1974.
Very Rev. Msgr. Serafin Ocampo 1974-1981.
Very Rev. Msgr. Jesus Galang 1981-1992.
Most Rev. Paciano Aniceto, D.D. 1992-1995.
Very Rev. Msgr. Eugenio Mercado, VF 1995-2002.
Very Rev. Msgr. Cenovio Lumanog, VG 2002-2007.
Very Rev. Msgr. Ricardo Jesus T. Serrano, SLD, 2007-present.

Liturgical services

Weekday Masses

• Monday to Saturday
• 6:00am (Kapampangan), 7:00am (English), 8:00am (Kapampangan) 12:00nn (English) 5:30pm (English)

• Sunday Masses

• Saturday: 5:30pm (anticipated Sunday Mass- English)

• Sunday:
• 5:00am (Kapampangan)
• 6:15am (English sometimes Kapampangan)
• 7:30am (English)
• 8:45am (English)
• 10:00am (English)
• 4:00pm (English)
• 5:15pm (Kapampangan)
• 6:30pm (English)
• 7:30pm (English)

Conirmations

• Last Sunday of the month

Baptism

• 11:00am every Sundays
• Special baptism by schedule

Wedding

Confessions

• (You can approach the Priest right after the mass)