Basilica Minore of our Lady of Charity (Sta.Monica Parish Agoo La Union)

The Basilica of Our Lady of Charity or the Agoo Cathedral is located in the heart of the town of Agoo and looms like a big mother to this progressive La Union town. The church was founded in 1578 by two eager and enthusiastic Franciscan priests, Fray John Baptist Lucarelli of Pesaro, Italy and Fray Sebastian de San Francisco of Baesa, Spain when they were assigned in our country for their evangelical mission.

The original church was made of nipa and bamboo and was constructed in Nagreban and dedicated in honor of the founder of the Franciscan Order, St. Francis of Assisi. The church was renovated and enlarged in 1598 under the supervision of Fr. Saturnino Franco with the help of Frs. Casimiro Melgosa and Aquilino Garcia who paved the way to the construction of the three-tiered belfry. However, a disastrous earthquake hit the place in 1892. In the church’s ruins later stood a shrine for Nuestra Señora de Caridad (Our Lady of Charity) which was later demolished in 1975. The present church was finished in 1978 in time for the feast of the Immaculate Conception. It was elevated to rank of Basilica Minore by Pope John Paul II on July 15, 1982.

The rosette stained glass window on the church’s facade provides a colorful contrast to the gray color of the front wall. The statues of Saints Peter and Paul flanked the main door which has Hebrew scripts carved on it. The first thing that will catch one’s attention once inside the church is the altar. It is made of eight panels of intricately carved wood that gave a lace-like effect. Perched on top of the carved panels is the statue of Our Lady of Charity which is housed in a small dome supported by twist columns. The cathedral also has a pipe organ tucked away in its choir loft. The organ is played only in special occasions and first masses during Sundays. The craved chandeliers that line up the middle aisle of the church are two-tiered and carved from Philippine mahogany.

Despite the raucus outside, the palpable solace, peace, serenity inside the church become a source of comfort. The labor of love that the patrons poured into the church is a witness to the rich heritage of Agoo.