San Vicente Ferrer church in changing colors through the years

Archdiocese Shrine of Nueva Segovia

 San Vicente Ferrer church in changing colors through the years

Dr Abe V Rotor

NOTE: April 5 is the Feast Day of San Vicente Ferrer, patron saint of  San Vicente, Ilocos Sur.  Town fiesta celebration in held on the last Tuesday of the month - April 30, 2024.  In 1795, it was the installation of the seat of municipality and the church , and Bo. Tuanong became San Vicente de Ferrer . Don Pedro de Leon was the first parish priest and he was believed as the initiator of the construction of the church of San Vicente.

Old photo of the 17th century church. This is how the façade looked like when I was in the elementary, just after the war . WWII spared the church from serious damage.

The church and municipality were named after Saint Vincent Ferrer, whose winged statue was found inside a box entangled in fishing nets. The fishermen consulted this matter to the friars in Villa Fernandina (now Vigan), who identified the person depicted by the statue. The statue was carried to the town's center, where a church was built. From then on, the town formerly known as Tuanong (sometimes called Taonan) became San Vicente.

In 1795, it was the initiation of the seat of municipality and the church and Bo. Tuanong became San Vicente de Ferrer. Don Pedro de Leon was the first parish priest and he was believed as the initiator of the construction of the Church of San Vicente.

St Vincent Ferrer, patron saint of San Vicente, Ilocos Sur

I've been away for almost a lifetime:

from childhood, the golden years down,

to the diamond years - and now I'm back

to my birthplace, to my home town.

The old church, landmark of time past,

of events local, and far, far beyond;

I've taken part in both - and in between,

my church in changing colors I found.

Changing colors still like the rainbow,

Sad and happy, lonely yet solemn,

the essence of faith true and abiding,

way beyond the tomb without end. ~

For many years the church assumed this color and color design

Ash gray color of facade - formal but gloomy. Photo on a clear day.
Photo below shows contrast: color turns dark gray with bluish hue. 

 

Yellow to orange towards sunset. Photos below, aerial view showing spacious environs; view through the arch built across the facade obstructing panoramic view of the facade. Tunnel effect of vision through the arch is inevitable.

The church had a close similarity with the present color (below)

The present color of the façade, salmon pink and white. Trees along the church's periphery make a natural curtain, they offer shade to churchgoers and pilgrims, and moderate an otherwise barren surrounding. What could be the next color?

Biographical Sketch of San Vicente Ferrer 

• Vincent Ferrer, OP was a Valencian Dominican friar and preacher, who gained acclaim as a missionary and a logician. He is honored as a saint of the Catholic Church and other churches of Catholic traditions. Wikipedia
• Born: January 23, 1350, Valencia, Spain
• Died: April 5, 1419 (age 69 years), Vannes, France
• Place of burial: Basílica Catedral de San Pedro, Vannes, France
• Parents: Constance Miguel, Guillem Ferrer
• Attributes: Dominican habit; Tongue of flame; Pulpit; Trumpet; Wings; Bible
• Canonized: 3 June 1455, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Papal States by Pope Callixtus III
• Feast: 5 April

Why does St Vincent Ferrer have wings?

He is renowned for “building” the Church through missionary efforts, prayer, and time spent preaching, teaching, advising, and taking confessions. St. Vincent Ferrer is mostly depicted with wings. The reason was because a number of people have seen him assume wings and fly off to a suffering person while preaching.

He preached often on the Final Judgment of Christ, earning him the nickname “Angel of the Apocalypse” and instilling a holy fear of God and a desire for repentance among his listeners. As Father Vincent traveled, hordes of people traveled with him, doing penance along the way. (Internet) ~