Sta. Monica Parish Church

   Sta. Monica Parish church is one of the major tourist attraction in Capiz.Declared as National Heritage by the National Historical Commission in 1997.The exact  location  of Sta.Monica Parish Church is in the town of Panay Capiz. Panay  is located on plain and fertile land irrigated by the rivers same name, the  climate is rather humid due to the abundant nipa fields and the low sea level.Its bounded by the sea of Mindoro, Pontevedra and the town of Capiz. Panay is the only town which can challenge Dumangas distinction of being the first town to have received the faith.

This historical cooperation between the church and government of Panay had always marked such noble task of  restoration and reconstruction across centuries. As early as 1994  during the term of Msgr. Romualdo  A. Azarcon, an initial plan for the restoration and reconstruction of Sta. Monica Church, Panay was proposed. As its parish priest, Msgr Mald had asked the benevolent assistance of the Department of tourism and the  National Commission on Culture and the Arts for the realization of this project. The Santa Monica Parish Church of Panay was declared a National
Historical Landmark by the National Historical Institute in its Resolution No.3, series of 1997. On June 6, 2001, the  pilgrim image of Sta. Monica visited the 76 chapels, and general assemblies of the 97 BEC’s in the 34 barangays were summoned. On September 22, 2002, Msgr. Ben celebrated mass in New Jersy, U.S.A  for Pan-ayanons, as well as friends from Loctugan, Pilar, Roxas City, Mambusao and Dumalag. On December of that year, the blessing of the just renovated belfry, the repository of the biggest bell in Asia, which weighs 183 arrobas(10.4 tons or 23,000 lbs.) took place. The Spanish inscription on the bell  reads:|”Soy la voz de Dios que Ilevare y ensalzare desde el pricipio hasta el fin de este pueblo de Panay para que los fieles de Jesus vengan a esta casa de Dios a recibir las gracias celestials” ( I am God’s voice which I shall echo and praise from one end to the other  of the town of  Panay, so that the faithful  followers of Christ may come to the house of God to recieve  the heavenly graces). On August 27, 2006, except for some portions still to be done, the Santa Monica Church was now ready for its rededictation on the feast day of  Sta.
Monica and the 44th Anniversary Celebration of the Evangelization of Panay. Come December 14, 2008, a Sunday, at 4:00 P.M the newly-restored  and elegantly beautified  parish convent of  Panay will be  blessed by it is  Grace, Most Rev. Onesimo C. Gordoncillo, D.D., Archbishop of Capiz