Diocese of San Pablo
Saint Polycarp Parish
Cabuyao City, Laguna, Philippines
The early residents of Cabuyao are known to the Franciscan Friars to have a Spiritual Necessity. To address this, in 1763, they planned and implemented to build a second stone church at the heart of Cabuyao on which now stands Saint Polycarp Parish. Although they have already built a church near the shores of Barangay Marinig (also part of Cabuyao), the frequent flooding in that area compelled the friars to build another church. The new location is on a higher ground which is more accessible to the people since it is near the public market, commercial spaces and even the Town hall. The construction of the church lasted for 8 years and was completed in 1771.
Since then, their mission to spread Christianity in Cabuyao was deepened. The greatest part of the “plaza complex” is to instill faith to the locals of Cabuyao through the Sacraments and Sacramentals.
In the course of time, many Parish priests and lay people served in this church. Yet, in 1966, when San Pablo was raised as a diocese, under the pastoral care of his excellency, Most Reverend Pedro N. Bantigue, Saint Polycarp Parish was one of the first to be included. With the high increase in number of Parishioners, Saint Polycarp Parish became the Mother Church of Cabuyao, which gave birth to other parishes such as Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish in Mamatid, Cabuyao (1946), Saint Francis of Assisi in Brgy. Pulo, Cabuyao (1970), Saint Joseph, the Worker Parish in Brgy. Bigaa, Cabuyao (1998) and Mary Help of Christians Parish in Southville Subdivision, Cabuyao (2015).
In the course of time, many parts of the church of Saint Polycarp have become different from the original structure. Due to unforeseen events such as natural calamities as well as man waged wars in history, the church is in dire need for renovation and restoration.
Thus, in 2021, the project “Road to Restoration” was launched so that the beauty and value of this house of prayer, Saint Polycarp church, may once again be admired.
