Submitted by Jacqueline Collins

2.  The parish of Sta. Rosa de Lima
originated in 1792 with the arrival of Fray
Francisco Favie of the Dominican Order.
 The first house of worship was a "Bisita"
constructed on the lot beside the
Municipal Hall, then known as the
"Presidencia".
 The structure still stands and serves today
as the Police Headquarters and
Municipal Jail.

3.  In 1970, the Spanish friars built the
present Catholic Church with recruited
labor from China who later became
descendants of the old Chinese families
in Santa Rosa like the Lijauco’s and the
Tiongco’s.

4.  The old convent is now the main building
of the Canossa School.
 Both the church and the convent were
completed within 12 years, and the
church was inaugurated on August 30,
1792 with SANTA ROSA DE LIMA as its
patron saint.
 And instead of “Bucol”, the residents
chose to name the town “Santa Rosa.”

5.  In 1850, the Casa-Hacienda (the site of
the present public elementary school)
was built as the friar’s Administration
Building and also served as residence
most favored by visiting dignitaries.
 There was an underground passage from
the foot of the stairs of the convent
crossing though the town plaza to the
stairs of the Casa-Hacienda.

8.  The execution of Dr. Jose Rizal and the
abuses and injustice of the Spanish
authorities led to the hostilities among
the inhabitants.
 In 1907, many disgruntled citizens
embraced the Aglipayan religion.
 The parishioners suddenly diminished in
number, and the priest held masses even
if there were only seven persons
attending.

9.  Santa Rosa de Lima, our patron saint, is
believed to be miraculous.
 During the Japanese occupation, several
evacuees from neighboring towns attested
that a beautiful lady in black and white
urged them to come to Santa Rosa where
rice and fish were abundant and they will
not go hungry.
 Upon visiting our church, they said the Lady
who invited them was none other than our
patron saint.

12.  When Father Benito Pagsuyuin was the
Parish Priest, some paintings that were
rotting in the sacristy were assembled,
and the late Dr. Pedro Rivera has them
repainted. They were framed and
displayed at the back part of the
church.

13.  During the time of Father Agustin Reyes
(1957-1966) the paintings were removed
when the ceiling was repainted during the
renovation of 1960 because some pictures
have been effaced by bats and of age.
 The two paintings on the ceiling of the choir
loft or “Koro”, the image of the patron saints
of Christian music – Holy King David with the
harp and Santa Cecilia at the piano, are
the only remains of these more than a
dozen paintings on the church ceiling.

14.  Father John Paul Villanueva installed the
Adoration Chapel using the Baptistry. He
also activated the different church
organizations.

15.  Father Antonio Atienza, who died in
office after serving the Parish for only one
year, was responsible for the repainting
and repair of the whole church roofing.
He also initiated the renovation of the
church façade. The exterior niches
which for so long stood empty, were
finally filled up with statues of Santa Rosa
de Lima, Saint Joseph, the Virgin Mary,
and the four Evangelists.

16.  Under the auspices of Father Mar R.M.
Castillo, and with the support of the
parishioners at large, the beautification of
our church patio was completed in barely
one year of his stay at the Parish. It gave
the church a beautiful setting with a
fountain installed at the center of the patio,
and on one side, the Fourteen Stations of
the Cross are depicted on the stone wall.
Father Mar also made possible some
renovations like the widening of the Altar
and the repair of the side entrance of the
church.