Augustinian Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus of the Philippines facts for kids
The Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus of the Philippines was a special group of the Augustinian Order of priests and brothers. It officially started on March 7, 1575. This group was first made to help the many Augustinians working in the Philippines. They served people in over 300 towns back in the 1500s.
Later, in the 1900s, this Province grew and helped communities in places like East Asia, Africa, and the Americas. It was known as the largest Augustinian group in the world. In 2018, it had over 300 Augustinian friars working in the Philippines, Spain, Tanzania, India, Venezuela, Peru, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and China.
This Province officially ended on September 16, 2019. It joined with three other Spanish Augustinian groups in Rome. Together, they formed a new, united Spanish Augustinian Province called San Juan de Sahagun. This was done to help the Augustinian Order in Spain grow stronger again.
Contents
- The Spanish Arrive in the Philippines
- Augustinians: First Catholic Missionaries
- Starting a New Province
- Helping Communities in Asia and Beyond
- The Province of the Philippines: A Helping Hand
- The Province of Santo Niño de Cebu
- Former Groups of the Province
- The Union of Augustinian Provinces in Spain
- Former Locations
- See also
The Spanish Arrive in the Philippines
In 1565, a Spanish leader named Miguel López de Legazpi arrived in the Philippines. He led an expedition sent by the Viceroy (a ruler representing the king) of New Spain (Mexico). Their goal was to find islands west of the Moluccas, following orders from King Philip II of Spain.
A very skilled navigator, Andrés de Urdaneta, was asked to guide this dangerous journey. He was also an Augustinian friar (a member of a religious order). Father Urdaneta was already in his sixties and not in good health. He had retired from being a navigator and had joined the Augustinian Order in Mexico.
Even though he was reluctant, King Philip II personally asked him to guide the voyage. The King wanted to focus on the Philippines to avoid conflicts with the Portuguese. Urdaneta felt he had to obey for "the glory of God." His knowledge and experience were very important for the success of the trip.
Augustinians: First Catholic Missionaries
Urdaneta and four other Augustinians arrived in Cebú in April 1565. They quickly began their religious work there. Legazpi started the first Spanish settlement in Cebú. This was after his men found a statue of the Child Jesus in a burned hut. The Spaniards thought finding the statue was a miracle. It was a gift from Ferdinand Magellan to the wife of the local leader in 1521.
Legazpi named the place Villa del Santísimo Nombre de Jésus (Village of the Most Holy Name of Jesus). Urdaneta founded the first churches in the Philippines, including the St. Vitales Church and the Basilica del Santo Niño. He was the first main religious leader in Cebu. Urdaneta was known as a "protector of the Indians" because he treated the Filipino natives well.
In June 1565, Urdaneta returned to Mexico to report on their journey. He wanted to go back to the Philippines to continue his work, but his superior said no because of his age. He passed away in Mexico City in 1568.
Starting a New Province
While Urdaneta was in Mexico, other Augustinians stayed in the Philippines. They quickly learned the local Cebuano language. In Manila, the Augustinians were given land inside the walled city of Intramuros. There, they built a church and a monastery. The first San Agustin Church, made of bamboo and nipa, was finished in 1571.
The first official meeting of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus of the Philippines happened at San Agustin Church on May 3, 1572. During this meeting, Fray Martin de Rada was chosen as the first leader of the Province. Rada spoke out against the unfair treatment of local people by Spanish officials. He reported these problems to King Philip II. Because he strongly fought for justice, he is remembered as the "Defender of the Natives."
In 1575, 24 more Spanish Augustinians arrived. They worked very successfully as traveling preachers. Their strong desire to spread the faith helped the Philippines become the only Catholic nation in Asia. In the same year, the main leader of the Augustinian Order, Fr. Tadeo de Perusa, officially created the new Augustinian Province in the Philippines. It was named the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus of the Philippines. To make sure there were always enough missionaries, a special school was set up in Valladolid, Spain.
Other religious groups, like the Franciscans, Dominicans, and Jesuits, also came to the Philippines. They all worked together to spread the Catholic faith. The San Agustín Church and Monastery in Manila was the main center for the Province for over 300 years. It is also where the Spanish leader Miguel López de Legazpi is buried.
The Augustinian missionaries wrote important books about Asian countries and their people. For example, Father Cipriano Navarro wrote about The Inhabitants of the Philippines. Father Manuel Blanco wrote a huge six-volume book called Flora de Filipinas (Plants of the Philippines). Father Blanco was a famous botanist who even built a botanical garden in Intramuros for his plant studies. Augustinian friars also studied the languages of the Philippine Islands. Many wrote grammar books and dictionaries.
In Luzon, the Augustinians built churches and spread their faith in many towns. These included Calumpit, Malolos, and Hagonoy in Bulacan province, and Lubao, Betis, and Bacolor in Pampanga province.
Helping Communities in Asia and Beyond
Since 1565, over 3,000 Augustinian missionaries have worked hard in the Philippines, China, and Japan. The Augustinian missions in the Philippines sent missionaries to other parts of East Asia. In 1603, some went to Japan, where several were killed for their faith. In 1653, others reached China. Father Rada was one of those who visited China and wrote detailed reports about his experiences. He is seen as the first ambassador from the Philippines to China during the colonial period.
Before the Philippine Revolution in 1896, the Augustinians managed over four hundred schools and churches across the islands. In 1904, they started the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City. This university became the largest Augustinian school in the world by student numbers. They also look after the Santo Niño Shrine in Cebu City. This shrine holds the very old image of the Child Jesus that Legazpi's men found in 1565.
In 1879, Pope Leo XIII asked the Augustinians of the Philippines Province to start a mission in Northern Hunan, China. The Augustinians set up main mission stations in three areas: Changteh, Lichow, and Yochow. Because of their efforts, the mission grew and became the Diocese of Changde in 1946. Several Augustinians from the Philippines Province served as religious leaders there.
In 1968, the Province also restarted the Augustinian presence in India. Augustinian missionaries had first reached India in 1542. Four of these early missionaries were the first priests from a religious order to sail all the way around the world.
From their centers in Spain and their missions in the Philippines, the Province also sent missionaries to Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela. Today, they are also actively involved in training and sending missionaries to Tanzania.
The Province of the Philippines: A Helping Hand
The Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus of the Philippines helped many other Augustinian groups around the world. Since it was the biggest Province, it gave aid to groups in Brazil, Castille, Spain, Colombia, and Peru. This help allowed these groups to become strong again.
The most famous group that came from the Province of the Philippines is the Augustinian Province of Santo Niño de Cebu. This new Province is based in the Philippines.
The Province of Santo Niño de Cebu
Around the year 1900, the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus of the Philippines decided to focus its missionary work on newer areas like Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela. Because of this, their presence in the Philippines became smaller. In 1926, it was reduced to a "Vicariate" (a smaller administrative area) to keep a Spanish presence in the country. The main office moved from Manila to Madrid, Spain.
To make up for fewer Spanish Augustinians, the remaining ones focused on training Filipino candidates. As more Filipinos joined and were ready, the idea of creating a new Filipino Province became serious.
Plans for this new Province began in 1974. The idea was brought up again in 1981 by a group of Filipino Augustinians in Cebu. This time, they wanted to create a whole new Province. The plan to create the Province of Sto. Niño de Cebu-Philippines was officially supported in 1981 and 1982. The main Augustinian leaders in Rome approved the idea on September 15, 1983. The new Province was officially started on December 25, 1983.
The Province of Cebu was formally created in Rome on September 13, 1983. This was during a big meeting of the Augustinian Order. Ninety-three delegates approved the creation of the first Augustinian Province led by local people in Asia. This happened after over 400 years of Spanish religious leaders being in charge.
Even before the new Province was formed, the Spanish Province and the Augustinian Order created a new Vicariate called The Augustinian Vicariate of the Orient. This was to continue the historical and cultural link of the Spanish Province in the Philippines. This new Vicariate was also meant to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in Eastern and Southeastern Asia and reconnect with missions in China and India.
When the new Province of Cebu was founded, two communities in the Philippines stayed with the Vicariate of the Orient: San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila, and Colegio San Agustin in Makati. Two communities in India and one church in Hunan, China, were also given to the Vicariate. All other Augustinian communities in the Philippines went to the new Province of Cebu. Because of this, the original Spanish Province renamed itself the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus of the Philippines of Spain. This was to show it was different from the new Filipino Province of Cebu.
Former Groups of the Province
Here is a list of the groups that were part of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus of the Philippines of Spain:
- The group in Spain (Spain)
- The Augustinian Vicariate of the Orient (Philippines and China)
- The Augustinian Vicariate of Our Lady of Grace (India)
- The Augustinian Vicariate of Iquitos (Peru)
- The Augustinian Vicariate of Venezuela (Venezuela)
- The Augustinian Delegation of Tanzania (Tanzania)
- The Augustinian Delegation of Centroamerica
The Union of Augustinian Provinces in Spain
The Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus of the Philippines of Spain officially joined with three other Spanish Augustinian Provinces on September 16, 2019, in Rome. These were the Province of Castille, the Province of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Matritense, and the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus of Spain. Together, they formed a new, united Spanish Augustinian Province called St. John of Sahagun. This was done to help the Augustinian Order in Spain grow stronger again.
Because of this union, some of the Province's former groups were given higher status. For example, the Augustinian Vicariate of the Orient became The Augustinian Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus of the Philippines. This is a new, separate Province from the Province of Cebu, but it took the old name of the Spanish Province. The Delegation of Tanzania also became The Augustinian Vicariate of Tanzania.
Former Locations
- Parroquia San Roque, Badalona, Spain
- Convento de San José, Bilbao, Spain
- Colegio Andrés de Urdaneta, Loiu, Spain
- Casa Provincial Andrés de Urdaneta, Madrid, Spain
- Capellania MM. Agustinas, Medina Del Campo, Valladolid, Spain
- Parroquia Nra. Sra. de Consolación, Mostoles, Madrid, Spain
- Convento Nra. Sra. del Carmen, Neguri, Vizcaya, Spain
- Comunidad PP. Agustinos, Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain
- Comunidad PP. Agustinos, Valencia de Don Juan, Leon, Spain
- Real Colegio de Agustinos Filipinos, Valladolid, Spain
- Comunidad de formación, Valladolid, Spain
- Colegio San Agustín, Zaragoza, Spain
See also
- Augustinian Province of Santo Niño de Cebu
- University of San Agustin
