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Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral in Cebu City

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral is the heart of Catholic religion in Cebu, Philippines.

Located in the historic and bustling Cebu City, it is the seat of ecclesiastical authority of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu. Also known as Cebu Cathedral, its official name is Catedral Metropolitana y Parroquia de San Vital y la Inmaculada Concepción (Metropolitan Cathedral and Parish of Saint Vitalis and of the Immaculate Conception).

History

The history of Cebu Cathedral is tied with the history of Spanish colonization and the Christianization and Catholicism in the Philippines.

In 1565, it was established by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi to appropriate a house of worship for the populace. However, the exact date when it was built remains unknown.

Dedicated to St. Vitalis whose feast day falls on April 28, the day of the finding of the Image of the Child Jesus, it was the Image’s temporary dwelling place while the Augustinian friars built a church and monastery on the location where the image was found (what is known today as Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño).

When Manila was elevated to an archdiocese in 1595, the church became the seat of the newly minted Diocese of Cebu. In 1598, the cathedral was founded by Bishop Pedro de Agurto, Cebu’s first bishop. He appointed the clergy to attend to the spiritual needs of Spanish colonizers, while the Prior of Sto. Niño and the parish of San Nicolas (Cebu City) were assigned for the ministry of the Filipinos.

By 1934, Cebu became an archdiocese.

The early church was a structure made of wood, bamboo, and thatch (nipa). Efforts to construct a sturdy place of worship gained momentum upon a 1665 report to the King of Spain of the dilapidated church. A request for an annual income derived from the subjugation of Filipinos who were to forced to pay tributes be funneled to its construction was made. It was approved along with a royal grant five years later.

The church’s foundations were erected in 1670. However its construction was besieged by various concerns, false starts, and delays. Among these issues include natural disasters like typhoon, death of bishops that was accompanied with cessation of building activities, inadequate skilled manpower, series of attempts in (re)constructions caused by abandonment of plans or demolition of existing structures or adaptation to changing needs of the flock, accounting issues, lack of and the issues arising from securing funds, diversion of funding towards military actions, and the Philippine revolution in 1898.

It was consecrated in 1909 by Bishop Juan Bautista Gorordo, the first Filipino and Cebuano bishop of Cebu. Renovations were carried out before the war.

In post-war years, reconstruction became necessary after the cathedral sustained extensive damages from US bombing raids. A new cathedral was designed by Architect Jose Zaragoza and completed in 1959 in time for the silver jubilee.

Further works were done in preparation for the arrival of Pope John Paul II to celebrate four centuries since the founding of the archdiocese of Manila.

And in 2008, a year before the 75th-year anniversary of Cebu as an archdiocese, renovations were implemented with Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal at the helm.

Heritage

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines declared the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral a heritage church. A heritage marker was installed by the commission on November 23, 2016.

Architecture

The cathedral’s interiors are contemporary except for its facade which retains 18th-century architecture. It is typified by Chinese influences, such as the two dogs guarding either side of the steps that lead to the entryway.

The facade is characterized by delineations into two stories by pilasters and decorative moldings that divide between the lower and upper portions, and between the upper portion and the pediment. The pediment is massive, ornately decorated with symbols and foliage, and trefoil-like shaped. It bears reliefs of griffins on either side, as well as figures of Saints Peter and Paul. The lower register of the pediment is pierced by a circular window, while above it is a monogram IHS with clam-shell relief.

On the ground flanking the arched entrance are two pilasters of paired Corinthian columns on plinths. By the entrance door in the gospel side is an image of St. Vitalis and in the other side an image of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. Above the door is a bas-relief of coat of arms and on top a winged figure in rectangular enclosure flanked by hexagonal glass windows. In the gospel side of the facade are four open-arch stained glass windows (two on each story) flanked by blind rose windows. In the epistle side are blind arches, blind rose windows, a stained glass window, and another door.

The three-story bell-tower is erected in the gospel side. Its uppermost floor is adorned with a clock and capped in red roof terminating in a spire.

Celebration

The feast of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is every December 8th. On the other hand, the feast of St. Vitalis the Italian martyr is every April 28th.

Services

For Baptism, which requires pre-registration at the office, it is scheduled in all Sundays at 9:00 in the morning as well as 2:00 in the afternoon with Pre-Jordan Seminar.

Confirmation likewise requires pre-registration at the office. It is scheduled every Saturday, starting with a seminar at 7:00 in the morning and Mass with Confirmation at 7:45 in the morning.

For Confession, schedules available are every Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 in the morning until noon, and from 4:00 in the afternoon until 6:00 in the evening.

For Pre-Cana Seminar, an activity required for people expressing intention to get married, a prior registration at the office is required. The seminar is held every second Saturday of each month from 8:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the evening. The schedule for weddings can be arranged at the office as well.

For Blessings, the lay faithful can request for a schedule any day anytime between 7:00 in the morning and 6:00 in the evening.

For the Anointing of the Sick, an arrangement can be made at the office.

Mass schedule

Below is the weekly mass schedule of Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral in Cebu City from November 18, 2024 to November 24, 2024. Please reach out to the church for an updated schedule. Additionally, you may also want to view mass schedules of churches in Cebu City.

Monday

  • 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano)
  • 7:00-8:00 AM (English)
  • 8:00-9:00 AM (English)
  • 9:00-10:00 AM (Cebuano)
  • 10:00-11:00 AM (Cebuano)
  • 12:15-1:15 PM (English)
  • 3:00-4:00 PM (Cebuano)
  • 4:00-5:00 PM (Cebuano)
  • 4:00-5:00 PM (Carreta Cemetery - FB Live)
  • 5:00-6:00 PM (Cebuano)
  • 6:00-7:00 PM (Cebuano - At the Mausoleum - FB Live)

Tuesday

  • 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano)
  • 7:00-8:00 AM (English)
  • 8:00-9:00 AM (English)
  • 9:00-10:00 AM (Cebuano)
  • 10:00-11:00 AM (Cebuano)
  • 12:15-1:15 PM (English)
  • 3:00-4:00 PM (Cebuano)
  • 4:00-5:00 PM (Cebuano - FB Live)
  • 5:00-6:00 PM (Cebuano)
  • 6:00-7:00 PM (English - FB Live)

Wednesday

  • 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano)
  • 7:00-8:00 AM (English)
  • 8:00-9:00 AM (English)
  • 9:00-10:00 AM (Cebuano)
  • 10:00-11:00 AM (Cebuano)
  • 12:15-1:15 PM (English)
  • 3:00-4:00 PM (Cebuano)
  • 4:00-5:00 PM (Cebuano - FB Live)
  • 5:00-6:00 PM (Cebuano)
  • 6:00-7:00 PM (Cebuano - FB Live)

Thursday

  • 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano)
  • 7:00-8:00 AM (English)
  • 8:00-9:00 AM (English)
  • 9:00-10:00 AM (Cebuano)
  • 10:00-11:00 AM (Cebuano)
  • 12:15-1:15 PM (English)
  • 3:00-4:00 PM (Cebuano)
  • 4:00-5:00 PM (Cebuano - FB Live)
  • 5:00-6:00 PM (Cebuano)
  • 6:00-7:00 PM (English - FB Live)

Friday

  • 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano)
  • 7:00-8:00 AM (English)
  • 8:00-9:00 AM (English)
  • 9:00-10:00 AM (Cebuano)
  • 10:00-11:00 AM (Cebuano)
  • 12:15-1:15 PM (English)
  • 3:00-4:00 PM (Cebuano)
  • 4:00-5:00 PM (Cebuano - FB Live)
  • 5:00-6:00 PM (Cebuano)
  • 6:00-7:00 PM (Cebuano - FB Live)

Saturday

  • 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano)
  • 7:00-8:00 AM (English - At St. Joseph Chapel)
  • 7:45-8:45 AM (Mass with Confirmation)
  • 9:00-10:00 AM (Cebuano)
  • 4:00-5:00 PM (Cebuano)
  • 5:30-6:30 PM (English - Sunday Mass)

Sunday

  • 5:00-6:00 AM (Cebuano)
  • 6:30-7:30 AM (Cebuano - Facebook Live / DYRF)
  • 8:00-9:00 AM (Cebuano)
  • 9:30-10:30 AM (English)
  • 11:00-12:00 NN (English)
  • 1:00-2:00 PM (Cebuano)
  • 2:30-3:30 PM (English - Facebook Live)
  • 4:00-5:00 PM (English)
  • 5:30-6:30 PM (Cebuano)
  • 7:00-8:00 PM (English)

Church information

Details
NameCebu Metropolitan Cathedral in Cebu City
Other NamesKatedral sa Sugbo, Cebu Cathedral, Metropolitan Cathedral, Catedral Metropolitana, Parokya ni San Vidal ug Inmaculada Concepcion, Parish of Saint Vitalis and of the Immaculate Conception, Parroquia de San Vital y la Immaculada Concepción,
AddressP. Burgos St., 6000 Cebu City
CountryPhilippines
Contact253-6422, 255-8823, 0956-992-4524, 0929-486-7388
Emailthearchdioceseofcebu@gmail.com
Facebookwww.facebook.com
Instagraminstagram.com
Twittertwitter.com
Websitearchdioceseofcebu.ph
YouTubewww.youtube.com
Religion
DenominationRoman Catholic
Established1595
Age429 years
StatusCathedral
Declared as archdiocese1934
Declared as cathedral1595
ArchdioceseRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu
DistrictDistrict I - Metro Cebu North
VicariateVicariate of the Most Holy Rosary
PatronOur Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Saint Vitalis of Milan
Feast dayApril 28
Architecture
HeritageHeritage Church
Completed1909
Age since completed115 years
ArchitectJose Zaragoza
StyleBaroque

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