St. Catherine of Alexandria (Dumaguete Cathedral) Mass Schedule

The cathedral’s original foundation was placed in 1754, and building was completed in 1776. The cathedral, which was rebuilt in 1885 with an addition to the façade in 1936, is the oldest stone church in Negros, according to a chiseled sign that rests in the bricks of one of the outside walls. The Companario de Dumaguete, one of the four original bell towers, is situated on the far left side of the church. The pentagon-shaped bell tower made of coral bricks was used in the 1880s to alert locals to potential attackers. The bell tower and cathedral appeared to provide the residents of Dumaguete some hope and protection from the Muslim warriors who frequently raided the city and threatened to turn them into slaves bring wealth inside its boundaries. The church still adheres to the founding ideas, values, and purposes for which it was established.