Draft:St. Joseph Shrine (Quezon City)

The Diocesan Shrine of St. Joseph of Quezon City (Diyosesanong Dambana ng San Jose de Quezon City), also known as St. Joseph Shrine, is a Catholic shrine and parish church located in Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City, Philippines. It is part of the Diocese of Cubao (since 2003), under the Vicariate of Saint Joseph, who serves as its patron saint.

Beginnings
After World War II, the residents of Manila became displaced and were relocated to the government's housing projects in Quezon City. Afterwards, the Archdiocese of Manila's Vicar General, Bishop Vicente Reyes, sent Rev. Fr. Jose S. Sunga to establish a parish community for the residents of Projects 2, 3, and 4.

Original Chapel
The parish was established on November 23, 1951, dismembering it from the parishes of the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Conception. Fr. Sunga leased a quonset hut in Durian Street to be the parish's original location and the first mass was celebrated on December 7, 1951. Because most of the residents are from the working class (which is also the etymology of the area's former name: Barrio Obrero), the chapel was dedicated to Saint Joseph, the patron saint of workers. As such, enthroned within the chapel was a St. Joseph image. Dubbed the San Jose de Quezon City, it was carved by acclaimed santero Maximo Vicente.

Current Shrine
The lease for the chapel was only temporary, so Fr. Sunga decided to find a permanent location. He acquired a 1,700 square meter area in Calle Quezon (now Aurora Boulevard), wherein the church is currently located. Construction for the church started on March 1, 1952 and ended in 1954. In 1978, the church underwent a major renovation. On December 3, 1999, the parish was bestowed the title of "Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Joseph" by Jaime Cardinal Sin. It became part of the Diocese of Cubao upon its establishment in 2003.

In 2021, the parish petitioned the local government of Quezon City to declare St. Joseph as Protector of Quezon City, as the parish being the first dedicated to Saint Joseph. In December 2021, the Local Government of Quezon City declared Saint Joseph as Protector of Quezon City.

Architechture
St. Joseph Shrine's architecture is a mix of Modernist and Baroque accents, a result of the 1978 renovation. The nave and façade contain stained glass panels of St. Joseph's life. Though it has no transepts and crossing, it has a dome, located directly above the sanctuary. In 2023, the sanctuary was renovated and it is more focused on Art Deco with Brutalist elements which designed by Rafael del Casal.

The main church is located on the second floor, while the first floor is where the Adoration Chapel and the "Bulwagang San Jose" is located. Aside from stairs, the floors are connected by an elevator called Elevator 2.7, installed in 2019.

List of Parish Priests

 * 1) Jose S. Sunga (1951−1970)
 * 2) Maximo A. Ocampo (acting, 1970−1971)
 * 3) Protacio G. Gungon (1971−1977)
 * 4) Arsenio R. Bautista (1977−1989)
 * 5) Romerico A. Prieto (1989−1993)
 * 6) Alfonso A. Bugaoan Jr. (1993−2006); first rector
 * 7) Alfredo G. Guerrero (2006−2012)
 * 8) Ramon N. Eloriaga (2012−2018)
 * 9) Ronaldo M. Macale (2018−2024)
 * 10) Gilberto Fortunato II C. Dumlao (2024–present)

Transportation Links
The shrine is located near Anonas station of LRT Line 2.