OUR LADY OF ATONEMENT CATHEDRAL

Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral - BAGUIO CATHEDRAL

Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral, better known as Baguio Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral located at Cathedral Loop, adjacent to Session Road in Baguio City, the Philippines. The building is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the Marian title of Our Lady of Atonement. It is distinct for its rose-colored exterior, twin spires and traditional stained glass windows and is one of the most photographed iconic buildings in Baguio City.[1] It served as an evacuation center during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II.

History

The site where the cathedral currently stands was a hill referred to as "Kampo" by the Ibaloi people. In 1907, a Catholic mission was established by Belgian missionaries from the Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae, who named the site Mount Mary.

Construction on the cathedral itself was begun in 1920, under the leadership of the then-parish priest, Fr. Florimono Carlu. The building was completed by 1936, and consecrated that year, dedicated to Our Lady of Atonement, one of the Titles of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

During World War II, the cathedral served as an evacuation center. It withstood the carpet-bombing of Baguio City in 1945. The remains of thousands of bombing victims during the war are interred within the grounds of the cathedral.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baguio_Cathedral