JARO CATHEDRAL: THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF CANDLES

Jaro Cathedral

Thousands of devotees gather at the Jaro Cathedral in Iloilo City every 2nd day of February to celebrate the feast of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candle). 

It is the site of the miraculous image of Virgin Mary, which was canonically crowned by Pope John Paul II in 1982. It is the only religious image in the Philippines to have personally crowned by a Pope.

The Jaro church plays a big part in the history of Iloilo. It is considered as the heart of Catholicism in the island and perhaps the most important shrine in the region. 

Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria

Interior of Jaro Church

Mother Mary

Jaro, one of the six districts of Iloilo City, originally name was Salog or Saro, was the center of religious and economic power in the Visayas during the Spanish rule of the Philippines. It has been one of the more economically-advanced areas of Iloilo City even during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines and probably the richest town of the entire colony (1521-1898)

This is the reason why Jaro is considered by many as the religious capital of Western Visayas. This is also the time when some Jareños especially abroad would come home and celebrate the feast with their family.

Mass Schedule of Jaro Cathedral

Mondays to Saturdays
5:30am
6:00am
6:30am
5:30pm (anticipated mass every Saturday)

Sundays
5:00am (Ilonggo)
6:30am (English)
8:00am (Ilonggo)
9:30am (English)
12:00pm (English)
3:00pm (English)
4:30pm (Ilonggo)
6:00pm (Ilonggo)
7:30pm (English)

Confession: 6:30am (Daily), 4:30pm (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday)
Baptism: 11:00am (Saturday and Sunday)
Pre-Baptismal Seminar: 8:30am to 10:30am (Saturday and Sunday)
Confirmation: 8:00am (First and third Thursday of the month)
Weddings: By appointment except Sundays
Common Wedding: 8:00am (Thursday)
Funeral: By appointment except Sundays
Common Funeral: 2:00pm (Tuesday)

How to get to Jaro Cathedral

The Bell Tower & Crossing to the Cathedral

Jaro Cathedral is about 18 kilometers south of Iloilo International Airport. From the airport, take the v-hire (van for hire) with SM Supermarket/Jaro-SM City Route with fares usually from P50. Vans usually stop at Jolibee beside SM Supermarket (one of the many SM Malls in Iloilo) and the belfry is very much visible from that point.

From the city center, take a Jaro CPU or Jaro Liko route jeepney with fare usually from P7. Just don’t forget to tell the driver to drop you in front of the church or to the nearest point and take a short walk.