St. Mary Magdalene Church of Kawit, also known as Kawit Church is the

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...

of the

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

Kawit Kawit, officially the Municipality of Kawit ( tgl, Bayan ng Kawit), is a first-class municipality of the Philippines, municipality in the Philippine Province, province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population ...

Cavite Cavite, officially the Province of Cavite ( tl, Lalawigan ng Kabite; Chavacano: ''Provincia de Cavite''), is a province in the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region in Luzon. Located on the southern shores of Manila Bay and southwest ...

in the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. The

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

church is one of the oldest churches in the

, construction of the present church was started in 1737. The church, named after Jesus' disciple

Mary Magdalene Mary Magdalene (sometimes called Mary of Magdala, or simply the Magdalene or the Madeleine) was a woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to crucifixion of Jesus, his cru ...

, was last restored in 1990 by the citizens of Kawit.

Emilio Aguinaldo Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy (: March 22, 1869February 6, 1964) was a Filipino revolutionary, statesman, and military leader who is the youngest president of the Philippines (1899–1901) and is recognized as the first president of the Philippine ...

, the president of the First Philippine Republic was baptized in this church, his birth certificate is kept on the left side of the altar. The church is known for healing and resolution to personal problems. The current parish priest of the church is Rev. Fr. Andy Manaog.

St. Mary Magdalene's statue

The miraculous life-size image of Mary Magdalene in Kawit has a "mark" in the middle of her forehead, it resembles a mole and no living local in Kawit knows why the statue has such a mark. Speculations suggests that this is the symbolic mark of Jesus' fingertip during the resurrection when he had appeared to Magdalene and said '' Noli me tangere'' (Touch me not) as it was recorded in the Gospel of John 20:17. Some suggests that this mark is to clearly distinguish her identity from the Virgin Mary. The antique statue is a detailed wooden sculpture with carved hair, draped clothing and a pair of silver shoes, she holds a

crucifix A crucifix (from Latin ''cruci fixus'' meaning "(one) fixed to a cross") is a cross with an image of Jesus on it, as distinct from a bare cross. The representation of Jesus himself on the cross is referred to in English as the ''corpus'' (Lati ...

on her left hand and a jar of perfume on the right hand. Her detailed carved clothing is a mixture of pink, orange, gold and a hint of light green beneath the orange draping. This detailed wardrobe is not usually seen because, by tradition, the image is always clothed with a gown, usually red in color with gold embroideries and orange, yellow or golden cape. A long wig that reaches to the hem of the gown is also placed on top of her carved hair. Three yellow strips of ribbon (or sash) is pinned horizontally to her gown to secure the wig from being displaced, and at the bottom, a pocket catches the ends of her wig. Only the face and hands are repainted from time to time, and the rest of the image's original paint is untouched.

History

The

Jesuits The Society of Jesus ( la, Societas Iesu; abbreviation: SJ), also known as the Jesuits (; la, Iesuitæ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...

first came to Kawit in 1624 to spread Christianity. The first wooden church was constructed in 1638 through the help of six Filipino families from the towns of Maragondon and Silang, Cavite. The town of Kawit, which was formerly known as ''Cavite Viejo'' during Spanish occupation, was frequented by Spanish marines, which slowly turned the town into a "

red-light district A red-light district or pleasure district is a part of an urban area where a concentration of prostitution and sex-oriented businesses, such as sex shops, strip clubs, and adult theaters, are found. In most cases, red-light districts are particu ...

". To help solve the bad reputation of the place, Manila Archbishop Miguel Garcia Serrano (1618–1629) ordered the dedication of the Kawit Church to

St. Mary Magdalene Mary Magdalene (sometimes called Mary of Magdala, or simply the Magdalene or the Madeleine) was a woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to his crucifixion and resurre ...

, who became the

patroness Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings, popes, and the wealthy have provided to artists su ...

of the town. Some people and researchers believe that it is possible that she may not be the original patron saint of the town, since most of the old parishes in Cavite were consecrated to the

Virgin Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother o ...

In 1737, the cornerstones of the present church were placed and the construction of the stone church began. The roof of the church were destroyed by a strong typhoon in 1831. The control of the church was transferred to the

secular clergy In Christianity, the term secular clergy refers to deacons and priests who are not monastics or otherwise members of religious life. A secular priest (sometimes known as a diocesan priest) is a priest who commits themselves to a certain geogra ...

in 1768 after the expulsion of the Jesuits from all of the Spanish Colony. The church was placed then under the Recollects in 1849. In 1869, General

, the president of the First Philippine Republic was baptized in this church. His birth certificate is kept inside a glass cabinet and on the left side of the altar, where the miraculous life-size (original) statue of St. Mary Magdalene is enshrined. During the

Philippine–American War The Philippine–American War or Filipino–American War ( es, Guerra filipina-estadounidense, tl, Digmaang Pilipino–Amerikano), previously referred to as the Philippine Insurrection or the Tagalog Insurgency by the United States, was an arm ...

in 1898, the Kawit Church was almost destroyed by Philippine forces who bombarded it using a pair of 8-inch muzzle loading cannon, belonging to the Philippine San Roque Battery under the command of an American, L.M. Johnson (Who would be mentioned in the Philippine Declaration of Independence) on the orders of Emilio Aguinaldo. The Spanish forces surrendered. Later in the war it was bombarded by the Americans as Filipino leaders were hiding in the church for protection."Old Cavite church near Manila..."
Library of Congress. Retrieved on 2013-06-17. Scars from the damages suffered by the building can still be traced on the church's exterior. The church was soon repaired after. Through the concerted efforts of the Kawiteños, the church was renovated and restored in 1990 through the leadership of Fr. Luciano Paguiligan.

Physical features

The years have tinted the church's facade with a characteristic patina, prevalent in the brick walls, making the plastered cornices and pilasters that divide the facade stand out to the eye. The facade is otherwise devoid of any flamboyant decorative elements. The first level is marked off by pilasters into vertical bays. The arched main portal dominates the center of the facade, topped by the seal of the church's patroness represented by two capital letter M's. Rectangular windows line the second level. The

pediment Pediments are gables, usually of a triangular shape. Pediments are placed above the horizontal structure of the lintel, or entablature, if supported by columns. Pediments can contain an overdoor and are usually topped by hood moulds. A pedimen ...

features a central niche which enshrines a smaller statue of Saint Mary Magdalene. A four-story bell tower is on the right side of the facade and its lower levels are square. These levels have windows on every side. The topmost level is narrower and octagonal. All of the bell tower's top windows have arched windows marked by 'ventanilla' latticework below the sills. The belfry is capped by a metal dome which is topped by a

weather vane A wind vane, weather vane, or weathercock is an instrument used for showing the direction of the wind. It is typically used as an architectural ornament to the highest point of a building. The word ''vane'' comes from the Old English word , m ...

. The plan of the church is a

cruciform Cruciform is a term for physical manifestations resembling a common cross or Christian cross. The label can be extended to architectural shapes, biology, art, and design. Cruciform architectural plan Christian churches are commonly described ...

with a single

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

. The sides of the church have a total of 14 sets of windows each with a small stained-glass depicting the fourteen

Stations of the Cross The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, also known as the Way of Sorrows or the Via Crucis, refers to a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of Crucifixion of Jesus, his crucifixion and accompanying prayers. The station ...

. Below each window is arch-shaped windows for air circulation. The two sides of the main altar, each have a larger stained-glass windows - one depicts the Resurrection of Christ and the other the life of Jesus Christ at different stages of his life. File:KawitChurchjf1477 03.JPG, The bell tower of St. Mary Magdalene Church File:KawitChurchjf1462 03.JPG, The thick buttresses of the church typical of earthquake baroque architecture. File:KawitChurchjf1477 02.JPG, The side windows with several openings for ventilation and one of the Station of the Cross File:KawitChurchjf1477 04.JPG, The side door on the western side of the church File:KawitChurchjf1500 12.JPG, The two "M" signifying Mary Magdalene, the patroness of the church. File:KawitChurchjf1462 04.JPG, Side door near the back of the church. File:KawitChurchjf1408 03.JPG, The holy water font by the entrance. File:KawitChurchjf1340 06.JPG, The large stained-glass window by the main altar depicting the Resurrection of Christ File:KawitChurchjf1340 09.JPG, The high altar and main retablo of St. Mary Magdalene Church. File:KawitChurchjf1340 03.JPG, The communion rails and the nave as seen from the sanctuary. File:KawitChurchjf1408 02.JPG, One of the windows and one of the Station of the Cross File:KawitChurchjf1394 01.JPG, The choir loft with the lacquered wooden ceiling shown.

Vicariate of St. Mary Magdalene

The Vicariate of St. Mary Magdalene of the

Diocese of Imus The Diocese of Imus ( la, Dioecesis Imusensis; Tagalog: ''Diyosesis ng Imus''; Spanish and Chavacano: ''Diócesis de Imus'') is a Roman Catholic diocese in the Philippines that comprises the entire province of Cavite. The diocese was canonicall ...

celebrated its

Golden Jubilee A golden jubilee marks a 50th anniversary. It variously is applied to people, events, and nations. Bangladesh In Bangladesh, golden jubilee refers the 50th anniversary year of the separation from Pakistan and is called in Bengali ''"সু ...

in November 2011. The Vicar Forane of the vicariate is Rev Fr. Teodoro B. Bawalan with Rev. Fr. Cornelio L. Matanguihan as the Vicarial representative. Under the vicariate are the following parishes: *Nuestra Senora de la Soledad Parish (Our Lady of Solitude Parish) – Villa Cañacao, Sta. Isabel, Kawit *Our Lady of Fatima Parish – Samala-Marquez, Binakayan, Kawit *San Antonio de Padua Parish – San Antonio, Cavite City *San Pedro Apostol Parish – San Pedro, Cavite City *San Roque Parish (Shrine of

Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga Our Lady of the Porta Vaga (, ) is a Roman Catholic Marian title of the Blessed Virgin Mary associated with a venerated Marian painting. The oldest dated Marian painting in the Philippines and the Patroness of Cavite is permanently enshrined at ...

) – San Roque, Cavite City (Jubilee Church) *St. Mary Magdalene Parish – Kawit Proper (Jubilee Church) *The Holy Cross Parish – Noveleta

Marked historical structure

The St. Mary Magdalene Church was declared a Historical Structure of the Philippines and a marker was placed by the National Historical Institute (now called the

National Historical Commission of the Philippines The National Historical Commission of the Philippines ( fil, Pambansang Komisyong Pangkasaysayan ng Pilipinas, abbreviated NHCP) is a government agency of the Philippines. Its mission is "the promotion of Philippine history and cultural herita ...

in 1990."Simbahan ng Kawit"
National Registry of Historic Sites & Structures in the Philippines. Retrieved on 2013-06-17.

In popular media

The church was featured in different films and commercials: * The music video "Tell The World of His Love", produced for the World Youth Day in 1995, was filmed in the interiors of the church with actress Sharon Cuneta. * The 2002 film '' I Think I'm in Love'' starring

Joyce Jimenez Joyce Herrín Reintegrado-Egbalic, popularly known by her screen name Joyce Jimenez (born March 21, 1978) is an American-born Filipino former actress who stars in movies in the Philippines. In the early 2000s, Joyce Jimenez was titled "Fantasya ...

and Piolo Pascual was filmed on both the interior and exterior parts of the church. The movie was directed by Maryo J. Delos Reyes. * The wedding scene of

and his second wife Maria Agoncillo in the 2012 biographical film on the life of

, '' El Presidente'', was filmed inside the church.

References

* Galende, Pedro G. ''Philippine Church Facades''. Quezon City: Filipiniana.net, 2007. * Layug, Benjamin L. ''A Tourist Guide to Notable Philippine Churches''. Quezon City: New Day Publication, 2007.

External links

St. Mary Magdalene Parish from Visit my Philippines

{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Imus Roman Catholic churches in Cavite Kawit, Cavite Marked Historical Structures of the Philippines Baroque church buildings in the Philippines Baroque architecture in the Philippines Churches in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Imus