Lucban Church

Father Juan de Plasencia and Father Diego de Oropesa de San José, known as the Apostles of Laguna and Tayabas, established the visita of Lucban in 1578 and started evangelizing the people of the town. The visita was elevated to a parish in 1595 under Father Miguel de Talavera alongside the construction of its first church made of wood, dedicated to Saint Louis of Toulouse. On April 4, 1945, the day American soldiers liberated Lucban during World War II, the church was partially damaged by a bomb. It was immediately reconstructed under the supervision of Monsignor Antonio Radovan. Under the supervision of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the church underwent a full-scale exterior restoration in 2019. It is being proposed as a diocesan shrine under the tutelage of Saint Isidro Labrador. == Architectural features ==

The church follows the baroque design. It has a three-story facade. The second level features semi-circular windows flanked by Corinthian columns and niches containing statues of saints. The church also has an octagonal, three-story bell tower standing on a square base. == Administration ==

San Luis Obispo Parish Church is within the jurisdiction of the Vicariate of Saint Thomas of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lucena. Presently, it is administered by Rev. Msgr. Melecio Verastigue, PC and is assisted by Rev. Fr. Reymart Karl Estrada as parochial vicar. ==Lucban Catholic Cemetery==

Locally known as Campo Santo, the cemetery was built in 1848 during the time of Fray Manuel Sancho, OFM and Capt. Simeon de Ramos. Its construction was paused briefly until Don Casimiro Antonio de Leon decided to complete the project. In 1882, in order to control the spread of cholera and reduce the number of deaths, Don Victor Eleazar oversaw the building of a small chapel () within the cemetery complex in such a way that will prevent the people from passing by the parish church to get the priest's final blessing. The impact of cholera on the town was not as grave as was expected. Because of the building's distinct and eerie character, various horror movie shots were filmed here. == Pahiyas Festival ==

A 6:00 AM Mass at the church marks the start of the colorful Pahiyas Festival every May 15; at 7:00 AM, a procession leaves the church carrying the images of San Isidro Labrador and Beata María de la Cabeza on a route around the town. == Other popular devotions ==

Santo Entierro de Lucban The is regarded by the locals as a miracle-worker. Every Good Friday procession, the image is processed throughout the town in a custom similar to that of Quiapo's Traslacion. According to Pantaleon Nantes' account, it ended up in a pawnshop in Manila causing many illnesses to the townspeople. Later on, two prominent families — the Lukban-Villaseñor Clan and the present owners, the Rañola clan — have contested the image's original ownership to the extent that they fought all the way to the Real Audiencia. The high court ruled in favor of the latter; it happened in 1892. Kalbaryo Kalbaryo is a local commemoration of Saint Helena and Bishop Macarius' discovery of Christ's real cross that is held every May 3. == Notes ==