The new parochial Church of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Sevilla, Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur was inaugurated today June 15,2021 by Most Rev. Marlo Peralta, Archbishop of Nueva Segovia.
Parish priest, Rev Fr. Rufo Abaya said, the church facade was inspired by the old Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico while the retablo replicates the one in the Cathedral of Mexico. The bells were smithed in Italy while the bricks used were from Vigan City.
Construction started last March 2020 thru the help of the Valle family and the parishioners but was delayed several times due to the pandemic.
The Catholic Church prays for the immediate end of the pandemic and asks its parishioners to maintain the beauty and cleanliness of their new place of worship and devotion.
Bishop William Antonio of Diocese of Ilagan in Isabela and Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian of Diocese of Bangued also attended the event.
The relic of St. Hannibal can also be found inside the church. It was brought by Rogationist priests from Parañaque, Manila.