WITH Quiapo Church becoming the 29th national shrine in the Philippines, the image of the Black Nazarene has affirmed its power to unite the faithful of all creeds, said Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula.
“Ito ay biyaya sa atin ng Mahal na Senyor,” Advincula said during the solemn declaration Mass on Monday, Jan. 29. “Siya ang kumikilos sa puso ng mga deboto at sa puso ng mga obispo.”
The Manila archbishop believed that the Quiapo Church’s elevated status is a testament that Jesus draws Himself nearer to the people.
“Lumalapit Siya sa atin kaya naiintindihan Niya ang kalagayan natin,” Advincula said. “Ramdam Niya tayo kaya naman lumapit din tayo sa Kaniya, lumapit tayo kay Hesus.”
The Church, he underscored, is open to everyone who’s sincerely seeking the Lord.
“Sa dambanang ito, paglingkuran natin ang mga taong mapag-isa, ang mga taong ayaw samahan ng iba, ang mga taong nilalayuan o pinagtatabuyan, [at] ang mga taong napag-iiwanan sa takbo ng mundo,” Advincula said.
“Sa dambanang ito, bukas ang mga pintuan ng puso natin upang lahat ay kasali – kasali ang lahat. Ito ang dalangin ng Mahal na Senyor: Magkisa tayo kay Hesus,” he added.
Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), handed over the decree declaring Quiapo Church a national shrine to Advincula.
Archbishop Charles John Brown, the apostolic nuncio to the Philippines who concelebrated the Mass with over 70 prelates in attendance, unveiled the historical marker.
The CBCP approved Advincula’s request to elevate Quiapo Church from an archdiocesan shrine to a national shrine during its 126th plenary assembly in Kalibo, Aklan, in July 2023. Quiapo Church Rector Fr. Jun Sescon received the decree of establishment on Dec. 14, 2023.
Canon 1231 of the Code of Canon Law states that a church becomes a national shrine upon the approval of the conference of bishops.
During Mass, David said he “would not be surprised” if Quiapo Church will be hailed an international shrine by the Holy See. “Let’s pray for it,” he said.
Currently, there are only 11 international shrines in the world. The most recent to join the ranks is the Antipolo Cathedral, the first to be declared in Southeast Asia.
In July 2023, Quiapo Church was recognized as an archdiocesan shrine, permitting local communities to celebrate a localized version of Traslacion, the annual commemoration every Jan. 9 of the image’s transfer from old San Nicolas de Tolentino Church in Intramuros to Quiapo Church, media correspondent Fr. Earl Allyson Valdez earlier told the Varsitarian.
It received minor basilica status in 1987.
The 28 other national shrines in the Philippines are:
Metro Manila
- National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Makati)
- National Shrine of the Sacred Heart (Makati)
- Binondo Church (Manila)
- Santa Ana Church (Manila)
- Saint Jude Parish (Manila)
- San Miguel Church (Manila)
- Baclaran Church (Parañaque)
- National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians (Parañaque)
- Mount Carmel Church (Quezon City)
- Our Lady of Lourdes Church (Quezon City)
- Santo Domingo Church (Quezon City)
- National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima (Valenzuela)
- Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal National Shrine Parish (Muntinlupa)
Luzon
- National Shrine and Parish of St. John Paul II (Bataan)
- Padre Pio Shrine (Batangas)
- Obando Church (Bulacan)
- National Shrine of Divine Mercy (Bulacan)
- National Shrine of Saint Anne (Bulacan)
- Peñafrancia Basilica (Camarines Sur)
- National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette (Cavite)
- Our Lady of Guibang Shrine (Isabela)
- Pila Church (Laguna)
- Three Kings Parish (Nueva Ecija)
- Our Lady of Sorrows Shrine (Quezon)
- Antipolo Cathedral (Rizal)
Visayas
- Virgen de la Regla National Shrine (Cebu)
- Mandaue Church (Cebu)
- Jaro Cathedral (Iloilo)
