National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes

Roman Catholic church in Quezon City, Philippines

Church in Quezon City, Philippines

National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes

Church of Lourdes de Retiro

* Pambansáng Dambana ng Mahal na Birhen ng Lourdes (Filipino)
* Santuario Nacional de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (Spanish)

The shrine in May 2014

14°37′49″N 120°59′49″E﻿ / ﻿14.6302°N 120.9970°E﻿ / 14.6302; 120.9970
Location| Santa Mesa Heights, Quezon City
Country| Philippines
Denomination| Roman Catholic
Religious order| Friars Minor Capuchin
Website| Lourdes de Retiro
History
Former name(s)| Parish of Santa Teresita del Niño Jesus[1]
Status| National shrine
Founded| 1892; 131 years ago (1892)
Founder(s)| Capuchins
Dedication| Our Lady of Lourdes
Consecrated| August 15, 1951; 72 years ago (1951-08-15)
Associated people| Manuel Flores (Sculptor of the first images of Our Lady of Lourdes)[2]
Architecture
Functional status| Active
Architectural type| Church building
Style| Neo-classic
Years built| c. 1892, 1897–1910 (dst. 1945)
1950–1951
Groundbreaking| January 30, 1950; 73 years ago (1950-01-30)
Completed| August 15, 1951; 72 years ago (1951-08-15)
Specifications
Materials| Reinforced concrete
Administration
Province| Manila
Diocese| Cubao (since 2003)
Deanery| San Pedro Bautista[3]
Parish| Our Lady of Lourdes
Clergy
Priest(s)| Rev. Fr. Jefferson Agustin, OFMCap
Assistant priest(s)| Rev. Fr. Roque Aristotle Padama, OFMCap

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes (Filipino: Pambansáng Dambana ng Mahal na Birhen ng Lourdes), better known as the Church of Lourdes de Retiro, is a Roman Catholic national shrine in Quezon City, Philippines. The church is administered by the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin of the Philippine Ecclesiastical Province and under the Vicariate of San Pedro Bautista of the Diocese of Cubao.[4]

The original church was located in Intramuros until it was destroyed during World War II.[1] The venerated Marian image enshrined within dates from 1894 was hidden and spared during the bombing.[2] The present church was completed and inaugurated in 1951.[2] In 1997, it was declared as a national shrine by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.[4]

Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Lourdes, Pope Francis granted a decree of canonical coronation towards the image on September 5, 2019. The image was crowned on August 22, 2020.

## History[edit]

The original church in Intramuros

Eleven missionaries from Spain arrived in Manila on May 13, 1886, and stayed with the Franciscans in Intramuros.[5] Six of the friars left while the remaining five continued to provide the spiritual needs of the area until they built the first Capuchin house in Gen Luna Street in Intramuros, Manila, opening it to the public on May 8, 1892.

The venerated Marian image crowned by Pope Francis in August 2020

Father Berardo de Cieza requested Manuel Flores to sculpt a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes later that year. A second image was sculpted by the same person with the guidance of Father Antonio of Valencia. In September 1897, Architect Federico Soler started the enlargement of the chapel with help from donations from a Mr. Moron. The new church dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes was inaugurated on February 3, 1910.[6]

When World War II erupted, the image of Our Lady of Lourdes was kept in the sacristy of San Agustin Church (Manila). It was found intact after the war and was transferred to the chapel of the University of Santo Tomas and later moved to Santa Teresita Chapel in Mayon Street, Quezon City.[5]

The Capuchins were able to obtain official authorization from the government on February 9, 1946, to the restore the church of Lourdes but decided to build a bigger church on an acquired 10,500 square meter lot located in Retiro Street, Quezon City. The construction of the new church started on January 30, 1950, by Engineer Marquez under the supervision of Father Bienvenido of Arbeiza as Custos.[6]

On February 10, 1951, the image of Our Lady of Lourdes was transferred to the new church from the temporary shelter in Mayon Street. The church was inaugurated on August 15, 1951, by the Archbishop of Manila, Gabriel Reyes who officiated at the mass which was attended by many important people including Don Mariano Jesus Cuenco, President of the Philippine Senate, and Miss Gullon, daughter of the Spanish Ambassador.[5][6]

On January 24, 1997, the church was declared National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.

Since July 2022, the church is now holding fundraising campaigns for the repair of their pipe organ and upgrade of the church's audio systems.[7]

## Organization[edit]

### Parochial jurisdiction[edit]

The church is located on Kanlaon Street at the corner of N.S. Amoranto Street in Sta. Mesa Heights, La Loma, Quezon City. Its current boundaries include:[1]

* G. Araneta Avenue (North Bound)
* Sta. Catalina Street (West Bound)
* A. Bonifacio Avenue (South Bound)
* Blumentritt Street (South Bound)
* Maria Clara Street (East Bound)

Six parishes have been erected within the former parochial jurisdiction of the shrine, namely:[1]

* Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Manila (1951)
* Santo Domingo, Quezon City (1972)
* Santa Teresita, Quezon City (1977)
* Santa Perpetua, Quezon City (1975)
* San Roque, Manila (1987)
* Most Holy Redeemer, Quezon City (1994)

### Clergy[edit]

#### Current priests[edit]

* Rev. Fr. Jefferson E. Agustin, OFMCap (Parish priest)
* Rev. Fr. Roque Aristotle Padama, OFMCap (Assistant Parish priest)

#### Former priests[edit]

* Fr. Fernando de Erasun (1942–1951)
* Fr. Pedro de Azcoitia (1951–1953)
* Fr. Fernando de Erasun (1953–1954)
* Fr. Sebastian de Sanguesa (1954–1961)
* Fr. Angel de los Arcos (1961–1967)
* Fr. Sebastian de Sanguesa (1967–1976)
* Fr. Jesus Salcedo (1976–1979)
* Fr. Troadio de los Santos (1979–1982)
* Fr. Jose Luis Arrieta (1982–1991)
* Fr. Alfredo Micua (1991–1994)
* Fr. Troadio de los Santos (1994–2002)
* Fr. Mario G. Dorado (2002–2005)
* Fr. Ramon C. Atanacio (2005–2011)
* Fr. Chito B. Bartolo (2011–2014)[1]
* Fr. William T. Bustamante (2014–2017)
* Fr. Cesar F. Acuin (2017–2021)

## Gallery[edit]

* Left side of the church (West)

* Right side of the church (East)

* The church's main entrance

* View from the main entrance

* Close up of the altar

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e "About Us". National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
2. ^ a b c "Lourdes Church History". National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
3. ^ "Diocese of Cubao". Catholink. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
4. ^ a b "Parishes Under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao". Diocese of Cubao. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
5. ^ a b c "Our Story". The National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes Philippines. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
6. ^ a b c "Pinoy Churches". pinoychurches.wordpress.com/. April 27, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
7. ^ "NATION... - NATIONAL SHRINE of OUR LADY of LOURDES QUEZON CITY". www.facebook.com.

## External links[edit]

* Media related to National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes (Quezon City) at Wikimedia Commons
* Official website
* National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes on Facebook

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