National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes (Pambansáng Dambana ng Mahal na Birhen ng Lourdes), better known as the Church of Lourdes de Manila, is a Catholic national shrine in Quezon City, Metro Manila, 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 Latin Church diocese of Cubao.

The original church was located in Intramuros until it was destroyed during World War II. The venerated Marian image (Lourdes de Manila) enshrined from 1896 was hidden and spared during the bombing. The present church was completed and inaugurated in 1951. In 1997, it was declared as a national shrine by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.

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


Eleven missionaries from Spain arrived in Manila on May 13, 1886, and stayed with the Franciscans in Intramuros. 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.



Father Berardo de Cieza commissioned Manuel Flores to sculpt a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes (La Primera Imagen) intended for the Grotto of the Convent and was later transferred inside the Chapel after those people who attended the blessing urged the Capuchins to put the image inside the church. The first novena in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes took place the following year. In 1894, due to the growing devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes, a second image (La Venerada Imagen) was commissioned by the same artist with the guidance of Father Antonio de Valencia which was funded by Mrs. Carmen Macan. The Image was finished in time for the Feast in 1896 while the first image (La Primera Imagen) was transferred inside the convent.

After three months, a young woman who was gravely ill, diagnosed with a tumor in her lungs who was near the point of death, Señora Doña Martina Azucena, was brought to the chapel after hearing of the miracles and cures of Our Lady of Lourdes. She implored the Blessed Mother’s intercession for her healing. For a full hour of praying in front of the Venerada Imagen, she felt strength slowly return and she was able to walk out of the Church without difficulty. She shared that for the last twenty-eight days she did not take anything except water from Lourdes. Every year on May 16, she offers a solemn Mass in thanksgiving to Nuestra Señora de Lourdes for the wonderful cures she received from her in 1896.

In September 1897, Architects Don Federico Soler and Don Jose Garcia Moron started the enlargement of the chapel with help from donations from a group led by Engineer Don Moron, Doña Pelagia Velasquez, and Doña Carmen Macan. On May 1, 1898, the powerful U.S. Navy appeared in Manila. After easily destroying Spain's small military fleet, they demanded Spain's surrender and threatened to launch an attack that would destroy property and lives within twenty-four hours. Upon hearing of the pending threat of bombardment of the City of Manila on May 2 by the Americans, Fr. Alfonso de Morentin, the Capuchin Superior prostrated in front of the 𝘝𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘢 𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯 asking that the City of Manila and the chapel be spared from destruction. In return he solemnly promised to dedicate the new church to her. The deadline passed, and the City of Manila and the Church were spared. And on September 24, 1898, with the approval of the Archbishop of Manila, the new church was officially inaugurated, with her as the titular patroness. The new church dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes was inaugurated on February 3, 1910.

When World War II started, the image of Our Lady of Lourdes was kept in the sacristy of San Agustin Church (Manila) together with several precious artifacts on February 5, 1945. It was left behind when the women of Intramuros were set free on February 23. It was retrieved a month later and it was brought to the chapel of the University of Santo Tomas and later moved to Santa Teresita Chapel in Mayon Street, Quezon City.

The Capuchins were able to obtain official authorization from the government on February 9, 1946, to the restore the church of Lourdes but later shifted plans 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 Don Egmidio Marquez and designed by Architect Luis Maria Araneta under the supervision of Father Bienvenido of Arbeiza as Custos.

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.

On February 3, 1897, The church was declared as the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes by His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin, D.D., Archbishop of Manila.

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

During the Centenary Celebration of the Archconfraternity of Our Lady of Lourdes in August 15, 2010, the Most Reverend Honesto E. Ongtioco, D.D. Bishop of Cubao, episcopally crowned the Venerated Image in response to the petition of the devotees of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Parochial jurisdiction
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:


 * 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:


 * 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)

Current priests

 * Rev. Fr. Uldarico C. Camus, (Parish priest)
 * Rev. Fr. Alfredo G. Micua, (Parochial Vicar)
 * Rev. Fr. Antonio B. Ala II, (Guardian)

Former priests

 * 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)
 * Fr. William T. Bustamante (2014–2017)
 * Fr. Cesar F. Acuin (2017–2021)
 * Fr. Jefferson E. Agustin (2021–2024)