Obando Church

Obando Church
San Pascual de Baylon Parish Church Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Immaculate Concepcion of Salambao
The church of Obando in Bulacan
Obando Church Republic of the Philippines
14°42′38″N 120°56′13″E / 14.710556°N 120.937028°E / 14.710556; 120.937028Coordinates: 14°42′38″N 120°56′13″E / 14.710556°N 120.937028°E / 14.710556; 120.937028
Location	Obando, Bulacan
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Dedication	Saint Paschal Baylon
Architecture
Status	Parish church and Diocesan Shrine
Functional status	Active
Architectural type	Church building
Administration
Archdiocese	Manila
Diocese	Malolos
Clergy
Archbishop	Luis Antonio Tagle
Bishop(s)	Jose Oliveros

The Obando Church, also known as the San Pascual de Baylon Parish Church, is a Roman Catholic church located in the municipality of Obando in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. Founded by Franciscan missionaries, under the Spanish flag, it is the venue of the three-day Obando Fertility Rites held annually in honor of three patron saints, namely: St. Pascual Baylon, St. Claire of Assisi and Our Lady of Salambao, a celebration that was mentioned by Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero, in the pages of his Spanish-language novel, the Noli Me Tangere (in Chapter 6: Captain Tiago). During the month of May, parishioners and other devotees perform the three-day Obando Dance (formerly known as the Kasilonawan, now locally called Sayaw sa Obando, literally "the dance in Obando") inside the church, followed by a street procession.

Its façade had been described as similar to that of the church of Marilao, Bulacan. The edifice is composed of windows and flat columns, and has a pediment with a niche and two round windows at the sides. The façade is also flanked by an octagonal belltower. Connected to its structure is the Colegio de San Pascual Baylon, a private school managed by the parish. The altar of the church is believed to be gilded with silver.

The Obando Church was built by the Franciscan Order, headed by Rev. P. Manuel de Olivencia, the first curate of Obando, on April 29, 1754. The church was destroyed in World War II during the fight for the liberation from the Japanese rule. According to some reports, the original statues of Our Lady of Salambao, Saint Clare and Saint Paschal Baylon were also destroyed during the fighting, and that the images presently venerated are commissioned replication of the original images. The church was rebuilt in 1947 through the efforts of Rev. Fr. Marcos C. Punzal with the help of local Obandeño parishioners.