The 161-year-old San Juan Nepomuceno Parish in San Remigio, Northern Cebu, will no longer be used after engineers declared the structure unsafe following the 6.9-magnitude earthquake on September 30.
The parish issued a statement saying the church sustained severe damage from the quake.
“After careful study, thorough inspections, and prayerful deliberation with heritage specialists, engineers, and our Parish officials, it has been concluded that repairing the church is no longer viable,” the statement read.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau also confirmed the presence of sinkholes and cavities beneath the church’s flooring.
“We have deep concerns that threaten the safety of every faithful who enters its doors,” the bureau added.
The Archdiocese of Cebu will abandon the old church and build a new one described as “stronger, safer and firmly founded for future generations.”
“This decision was not made lightly. We understand the deep emotional bond our community shares with this sacred edifice. Every stone, every pew, every echo of prayer within its walls carries the stories and sacrifices of the San Remigiohanon faithful,” the parish wrote.
Officials urged parishioners to remember the memories and legacy of the old church. As construction of the new church begins in the coming weeks, they described the moment as one of “grief and hope” and asked for prayers.
The San Juan Nepomuceno Parish Church, originally built in the early 17th century, was dedicated to Saint John Nepomuk, a Bohemian priest and martyr known for defending the sacrament of confession.
Several other churches in Cebu also suffered significant damage from the September earthquake.
