Pateros Church

San Roque Parish Church, also known as the Diocesan Shrine of Santa Marta and commonly known as Pateros Church, is a Roman Catholic church under the order of the Augustinians located in the municipality of Pateros, Metro Manila, Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Pasig.

Pateros Church
San Roque Parish Church Diocesan Shrine of Saint Martha
Dambanang Pangdiyosesis ni Santa Marta (Tagalog) Iglesia Parroquia San Roque (Spanish) Parroquia Diocesana de Santa Marta (Spanish)
Church facade in 2024
14°32′42″N 121°04′01″E
Location	B. Morcilla St., Pateros, Metro Manila
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	www.dssm-srppateros.org
History
Founded	August 16, 1815
Founder(s)	Fray Andres Vehil
Dedication	St. Roch
Consecrated	August 16, 1815[1]
Relics held	St. Martha
Events	200 years anniversary[2]
Past bishop(s)	Bishop-Emeritus Francisco San Diego D.D.
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Fray Santos Gomez Marañon
Architectural type	Church building
Style	Baroque
Groundbreaking	July 1, 1816
Completed	August 16, 1816
Specifications
Materials	Stones
Administration
Diocese	Pasig
Clergy
Bishop(s)	Bishop Mylo Hubert Claudio Vergara
Priest(s)	Rev. Fr. Loreto "Jhun" Sanchez, Jr.
Assistant priest(s)	Rev. Fr. Victor "Vic" Virtudazo Rev. Fr. Tirso Gliponeo

History

Church NHC historical marker installed in 2015

19th century

Pateros Church was founded after the division of Pateros to Pasig by Fray Andres Vehil and Fr. Manuel Pelaes on June 1, 1815. In 1863, an earthquake damaged and destroyed the church. Renovation of the church was completed in 1893 under Fr. Tomas Espejo. The church was destroyed for the second time in the midst of the Philippine Revolution during the Battle of Pateros on March 14, 1899.^[3]

20th century

During World War II, families of the civilians who were arrested, were taken to the church, which served as a prison. In December 1944, Japanese soldiers killed many civilians inside the church. After the war, the people of Pateros and the church rose again.^[3]

Contemporary history

On August 21, 2003, the church was placed under the jurisdiction of the newly-established Diocese of Pasig. On February 7, 2009, following a petition filed last year by Rev. Fr. Orlando B. Cantillon and the Poderes de Santa Marta de Pateros to the archbishop at the time, Bishop Francisco San Diego, it was officially conferred and recognized as a Diocesan Shrine.^[4]

In 2015, under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Roy Rosales, San Roque Parish celebrated its 200th anniversary.^[2]

Church Important Cultural Property marker installed in 2023

On July 29, 2023, the church, including its shrine, was declared an Important Cultural Property by the National Museum.

Architecture

The parish was built by Fray Andres Vehil and Fr. Don Manuel Pelaes using a stone design planned and created by Fray Santos Gomez Marañon. They started building the parish, completing it on July 1, 1815, with the San Isidro Bell built in 1821.

• 
  Church altar and reredos, 2013
• 
  Santa Marta
• 
  Black Nazarene
• 
  Church interior in 2017
• 
  Bell tower
• 
  Welcome arch, 2024