WILLIAM PARISH
San Marcelino,Zambales
The faith saw its birth in Zambales in 1607 through the efforts of the missionaries of the Order of the Recollects of St. The faith flourished in the province at the troubled days of the revolution in 1896. Leaving ruined churches and convents at its wake, the revolution rendered the province practically unattended by Catholic priests. In this state of thing
s, a majority of the people in the territory became Aglipayans.
“The revolution of 1896 had left the churhes and convents of Zambales in ruins, rendering the province practically unattended by Catholic priests; making a majority of the people in the territory becoming Aglipayans.”
Upon the invitation of the Archbishop of Manila, Michael J. O’Doherty, the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), took over the spritual care of God’s people in Zambales. In the year 1920’s the Catholics here in Zambales were only few. Later in the mid-20’s, spread of faith in San Marcelino started with the Magsaysays, Rodriguez’s and Gonzales’s Families. They were the first Catholic families to organize different devotions. Don Magsaysay and his family started to teach catechism in some barrios and eventually their teachings grew deeper. In the 1920’s, the spread of faith in San Marcelino was spearheaded by the Magsaysay’s, Rodriguez’s and Gonzales’s families, organizing devotions and teaching catechism in barrios. Masses were held in the houses of those families and were celebrated by priests still coming from San Narciso. Sometime in 1927-1928, a German missionary priest, Fr. Miguel Aunspach,SVD together with the faithful, came and decided to construct a church. The first church of San Marcelino, made of wood,was built. Fr.Aunspach served as the first parish priest. The first sacristans were Diosdado Rodriguez and Dr. Castillo Magsaysay. Natividad Rodriguez was the first teacher who taught catechism in the church after Sunday Masses. Rev. Fr. Henry Steinfort, SVD became the next parish priest who started the reconstruction of the Catholic Cemetery. After him, Rev. Francisco Gossens, SVD took over. In his time the church became stable and renovated. In his time also, president Elpidip Querino intervened because the building of the church was being stopped by an official of Municipal Government. Gossens was even jailed because of this. When president Quirino arrived in the town, he asked why priest was in jail and then ordered them that the priest be freed. Gossens continued the building of the church. The wooden church bells were replaced with metal ones. These bells are the ones that are being used until now. In Rev. Francisco Gossens,SVD’s time as parish priest, the church became stable and renovated. In his time also, President Elpidio Quirino intervened because the building of the church was stopped by an official of the Municipal Government. When president Quirino arrived in the town, he asked why the priest was in jail and then ordered them that the priest be freed. These bells are still the ones that are being today. Then came Rev. Thomas Pacano, from Abra, and Rev. Guisto who founded the school in 1949 during the Japanese Occupation, and named it Southern Zambales High School. With the school, the Catholics grew in number. The Aglipayan students converted into Catholicism. The teaching of Catholic religion also started. In 1937, a strong typhoon hit the town and strongly damaged the church. The church became inclined in position. At this time, the Columban priests (Missionary Society of St. Columban) took over. Vincent Lyons and Fr. Dermont Woods by Columbans, made the church wider and larger. Cornelius O’Connel started the building of chapels in the different barrios- Linusungan, San Rafael, Nagbunga and Consuelo Norte. The different Church Organizations that started at that time were: Children of Mary, Junior Holy Name of Society, Legion of Mary. The first president of the Apostleship of Prayer was Doña Vicenta Rodriguez while Mrs. Felicidad Gonzales Villanueva was the president of the Children of Mary. The fourteen (14) Wooden Stations of the Cross were donated by Ma. Anita Magsaysay, a great painter from San Antonio. The old image of St. William which is in the altar was given by Doña Quintina Gonzales, as a gift for her child Guillermo was born on the feast day of St. William. Some people say that the statue is a miracolus one. His feast day is celebrated every June 25. In the year 1973, the Filipino Diocesan Priest took over the sheperding of St.William Parish. Then the 1st Filipino priest assigned was Rev. Audencio Mozo,Jr. as the Parochial Vicar. In the year 1977 the first Parish Priest was Rev. Simplicio Esteban. When Mt. Pinatubo errupted On 1991, the church structure was not affected and damaged. Because of the generosity of heart of Rev. he extended help to the victims of the erruption by letting the people to stay in the school. Teodoro Camat continue this mission because of his generous heart and earnestly watch the lahar situation at that time of calamity. On the year 2004 with the help of the Parish Pastoral Council different church organization and barangay representatives the Vision-Mission of the Parish was formulated and all the activities must be rooted on it – “Isang Sambayang Kristiyano,Dukha subalit Mayaman sa Pakikipagkaibigan sa Diyos at sa Kapwa”. It is through the guidance and help of the parish priest that time, Rev. Ernesto C. Raymundo who also lead to establish the Basic Ecclesial Community or BEC here in San Marcelino. In the year 2005, the Lord sent a new shepered to continue the mission to take care and guide the people of San Marcelino. In the person of Rev. Dennis S. Astor, who renew the interior structure of the church through putting up an artistic retablo and concrete pillars. From the fund raising and generosity of the Marcelinians aroud the world and from the faithful Catholics here in San Marcelino. In May 2012, St. William Parish was blessed by God, a generous,simple,approachable, hardworking, humble and loving Parish Priest- Rev. Michael Oliver S. Lucio,JCL. He continued the beautification and construction of the church and the convent. He was able to put up a mini garden, fence with gate and a big statue image of St. William at the church façade. Through his effort, the Parish Pastoral Hall was constructed and was built beside the convent with the help of some generous parishioners. Barrio masses were made regular at Barangay Consuelo Norte, Nagbunga, Linusungan, Rabanes, Aglao, Sitio Dalanawan, Pili-Buhawen and Barangay Sta.Fe. And in an unexpected time, he has fought the good fight and finished the race and returned to our creator on March 15, 2019. On April 8, 2019 Most. Bartolome G. Santos D.D. Bishop of Iba sent us Rev. Israel Enero C. Camar to be our new parish priest. He restored and refurvished the church retablo and the old sacred vessels, he also led the repair and beautification of the Adoration Chapel, in preparation of the Dedication of the Church. And through the effort of Fr. Israel, the Executive Committee headed by Engr. Antonio Escobar and the generosity of the parishioners the church was Dedicated on February 22, 2020 by Most. Santos, D.D. During the Feastday of St. William on June 25, 2020 Rev. Eric Dela Cruz was introduced to the communityof San Marcelino as the new parish priest of St. Eric Dela Cruz, a third order Dominican, a Marian Devotee, a jolly, and kind person finally starte his sheperding his flock here in San Marcelino on June 26, 2020. From the day he came to San Marcelino, he introduced the diiifferent devotions: Praying the Holy Rosary; The Angelus; Prayer devotion for the Souls of the Faithful Departed every Tuesday; prayer devotion in honor of St. William of Vercelli every Thursday; prayer devotion in honor of the Black Nazarene every Friday; and prayer devotion to Our Lady of Ina P**n Bato and Our Lady of Lanaval every Saturday and through his informative catechesis in his homily more parishioners become active. October 10, 2021 – Episcopal Coronation of Our Lady, La Naval de San Marcelino
