Church of St. Mary Magdalene
From Bacoor City, the first church in our Cavite Visita Iglesia itinerary was the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. First built in wood in 1638 (the third oldest in Cavite), the present stone church was built in 1737. Its roof was destroyed during a typhoon in 1831. Located 800 m. from the Aguinaldo Shrine, this church was the baptismal site of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo (March 29, 1869). His birth certificate is kept in glass cabinet on the left side of the altar. The church was repaired in 1990.
Check out “VIsita Iglesia 2017” and “Aguinaldo Shrine“
The church’s Baroque-style facade
The church’s two-level Baroque façade, devoid of any flamboyant decorative elements, has a semicircular arch main entrance, topped by the seal of the church’s patroness represented by two capital letter M’s, flanked by superpositioned paired flat pilasters. The second level has rectangular windows and a triangular pediment with a central niche with the statue of St. Mary Magdalene.
The 4-storey bell tower
On the church’s right is a four-storey bell tower, its first three storeys square and the fourth octagonal. It is capped by a metal dome which is topped by a weather vane. On the three upper levels are open arched fenestrations with ventanilla latticework below the sills.
The church’s interior
The church, with its cruciform plan, has a single nave whose sides have a total of 14 sets of windows, each with a small stained-glass depicting the 14 Stations of the Cross.
The main (at center) an 2 side retablos
Below are arch-shaped windows for air circulation. Each side of the main altar have a larger stained-glass windows, one depicting the Resurrection of Christ and the other the life of Jesus Christ at different stages of his life.
NHI Plaque
Church of St. Mary Magdalene: Tirona Highway, Poblacion, Kawit, Cavite. Tel: (046) 434-8395. Feast of St. Mary Magdalene: July 22.
How to Get There: Kawit is located 25.3 kms. (a 1-hr. drive) from Manila and 22.1 kms. (a 45-min. drive) from Trece Martires City.