Santa Monica Parish Church (Minalin)

The Santa Monica Parish Church, commonly known as the Minalin Church, is a Baroque church, located in poblacion area of San Nicolas in Minalin, Pampanga, Philippines. The church, built during the Spanish era, was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the National Museum of the Philippines on August 27, 2011, one of 37 churches in the country bestowed that honor.The parish church is part of the ecclesiastical province of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando, under the Vicariate of Christ The King. The church is under the patronage of Saint Monica of Hippo, with a feast day celebrated annually every second Sunday of May. The current parish priest is Rev. Fr. Eric de Guzman succeeding Rev. Fr. Greg Vega.HistoryFounded in 1614, Minalin parish started as a visita of Macabebe, Pampanga. Fr. Miguel de Saldaña was assigned in 1618 as its own parish priest. On October 31, 1624, the Minalin parish was accepted as independent vicariate under its prior, Fr. Martín Vargas. Minalin was given the two visitas of Pangasinan and Tubungao in 1633. The act was reconfirmed in 1639. The convent of Minalin was under the Augustinians as of May 5, 1670. was added to Bacolor on May 9, 1650 and to Betis on October 21, 1678, and May 11, 1680. Don Lorenzo Malaca was the first native secular assigned to Minalin in 1771, succeeded by Don Manuel Francisco Tubil.