Historic Jimenez Church Temporarily Closed for One Week After Holy Water Desecration Incident

By Sherman Calotes | Philippine People's Press 

Jimenez, Misamis Occidental – The Parish of St. John the Baptist, recognized as the oldest church in Misamis Occidental, has been temporarily closed for one week starting today, August 5, following a viral video that sparked public concern and strong reactions online.

The video, which circulated rapidly on social media, shows a woman appearing to spit into the holy water font of the church. The clip was captioned, “Unsa d ay ni???” (“What is this???”), drawing widespread attention and concern from parishioners and the local community.

In response, the Archdiocese of Misamis Occidental, together with members of the clergy, will conduct an Act of Deconsecration at 3:00 PM today inside the church. This sacred rite aims to symbolically cleanse the church following the desecration.

Following the ritual, the church will remain closed for seven days to allow for spiritual reflection and reparation. No Masses will be held during this period, including Sunday Mass. However, Holy Hours (Hora Santa) will continue as an alternative form of communal prayer.

In an official statement, church leaders emphasized:

“All these actions are being undertaken as a response to the unfortunate incident, and to reinforce the message that the church and all its sacred elements must be treated with reverence. We invite the faithful to join us for the 3:00 PM ritual.”

The parish further clarified that the move is not intended to shame or condemn any individual, but rather to call attention to the sanctity of religious symbols and encourage the faithful to restore reverence and spiritual awareness.

The church also expressed gratitude to parishioners and residents of Jimenez for their outpouring of support and unity in upholding the sacred identity of their community.

The Parish of St. John the Baptist is not only a cultural treasure but also a spiritual cornerstone for generations of Jimeneznons. As church leaders reminded, “The Church is not merely a building it is the people.”

Philippine People's Press | In Truth We Prevail