The St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Church was built in 1606 and is one of the oldest surviving churches in the Philippines, originally built during the Spanish period. The church has recently gained international prominence for its restored façade and interior, not withstanding its impressive size and unique design.
Known to the locals as the Mambusao Church, its walls are three meters thick and are made of coral, brick, and limestone. Its building is mostly in the Baroque style. On the other hand, the gable, doors, and inset windows on the outside have curled decorations that look like they were made by the Moors. It is thought that these accents were added to the original Baroque face during repairs and restorations that happened later.
Mambusao Church's simple but colorful interiors have an ornate retablo with niches filled with saints that sits above the golden altar. The church was recently renovated. The sides of the altar are also adored with more saints. The church’s recent redevelopment was made possibly with the dedication of its parish priest, Fr. Jose Arturo Emilio Arbatin, who raised funds to make this project possible.
The town of Mambusao celebrates the yearly Inilusan Festival every November 25. The local parish takes an active part in celebrating this occasion which is celebrated in honor of St. Catherine of Alexandria, a 4th century princess who was converted to Christianity at age 14 and helped bring hundreds of people to faith. In the year 305, she was set on fire by Emperor Maxentius when she was 18 years old. Inilusan comes from the phrase "sharing dishes with neighbors," a long-held tradition not only by the people of Mambusao, but practiced in Capiz in general, as a sign of goodwill and kindness.
On November 21, 2023, through the petition of Fr. Arbatin and the parishioners, The St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Church was declared an archdiocesan shrine by Capiz Archbishop Victor Bendico.
