Imagine a vault. It is bomb-proof. That vault played a key role in Cebu’s history. We are standing before the Redemptorist Church. This church safeguarded the image of Sto. Niño de Cebu during World War II.
The Redemptorist Church is formally named Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church. It is a Roman Catholic church. The Redemptorists administer it.
Let’s step back in time. The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer arrived in the Philippines after the Philippine Revolution in 1898. Spanish friars were leaving. The Redemptorists established a community in Opon in 1906. Opon is the old name of Lapu-Lapu City. By 1914, they had moved to Cebu City.
Before this church stood here, there was a monastery chapel. It opened August 2, 1929. World War II brought devastation to Cebu. American forces heavily bombarded the area. Sto. Niño Church suffered damage. An explosive landed before the altar. The image of Sto. Niño was miraculously spared. It was found dangling by its vestment. An electric candle had snagged it.
Augustinian priests decided to relocate Sto. Niño. They chose the Redemptorist monastery chapel. The image was kept safe for seven months. This was from September 1944 to April 1945.
Fr. Luke Hartingan led the construction of the Redemptorist Church. It finished in June 1950. The church became a parish in 1971.
Notice the Romanesque architecture. Two bell towers flank the facade. A portico marks the entryway. Cross symbols decorate its pillars. The church wall recedes above the portico. A rose window displays the image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Intricate details adorn the gable. Dentil and horizontal moldings add to its beauty.
The bell towers are quadrangular. Stained glass windows decorate three sections. A clock tops the gospel side. The other side features rose windows with white tracery.
Inside the Redemptorist Church, you will see three naves. A ribbed vaulted ceiling arches above the main nave. Arch windows line the clerestory. Composite columns support an arcade.
The feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is a major celebration. It occurs every third Sunday of June. People flock to the Redemptorist Church. They participate in the festivities.
The Redemptorist Church stands as a testament to faith. It also stands as a testament to resilience. It protected a sacred image during wartime. It continues to serve as a spiritual beacon for Cebu City. Remember its history. Remember its beauty. Remember its role in protecting Sto. Niño.