| National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes | |
|---|---|
| NSOLL QC | |
 The shrine in February 2024 | |
 National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes | |
| 14°37′49″N120°59′49″E / 14.6302°N 120.9970°E /14.6302; 120.9970 | |
| Location | Santa Mesa Heights,Quezon City |
| Country | Philippines |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Religious order | Friars Minor Capuchin |
| Website | www |
| History | |
| Former name | Parish of Santa Teresita del Niño Jesus[1] |
| Status | National shrine |
| Founded | 1892; 133 years ago (1892) |
| Founder | Capuchins |
| Dedication | Our Lady of Lourdes |
| Consecrated | August 15, 1951; 74 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 |
|
| Groundbreaking | January 30, 1950; 75 years ago (1950-01-30) |
| Completed | August 15, 1951; 74 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 | |
| Vicar | Alfredo Micua |
| Priest | Uldarico C. Camus |
TheNational Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, commonly known as theChurch of Lourdes of Quezon City, is aRoman Catholicnational shrine inQuezon City, Philippines. The church is administered by theOrder of Friars Minor Capuchin of the PhilippineEcclesiastical Province and under theVicariate of San Pedro Bautista of theLatin Church diocese ofCubao.[4]
The original church was located inIntramuros until it was destroyed duringWorld War II.[1] The venerated Marian image (Lourdes de Manila) enshrined from 1896 was hidden and spared during the bombing.[2][4]
Dedicated to theBlessed Virgin Mary under thetitle ofOur Lady of Lourdes,Pope Francis granted a decree ofcanonical coronation towards the image on September 5, 2019. The image was crowned on August 22, 2020.
Father Bernardo de Cieza commissioned Manuel Flores Y De Lima to sculpt a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes ("La Primera Imagen") intended for thegrotto of theconvento. This was later placed inside the Chapel at the urging of those who attended the blessing Capuchins. The firstnovena to Our Lady of Lourdes took place the following year. In 1894, due to the growing devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes, a second image by Flores (“La Venerada Imagen”) was commissioned, under the guidance of Father Antonio de Valencia, and funded by Mrs. Carmen Macan. This second image was completed in time for the feast day in 1896, while the first image (“'La Primera Imagen”)was transferred inside theconvento.[5]
After three months, a young woman who was diagnosed with a tumor in her lungs and near death,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. After a full hour of praying in front of theVenerada Imagen, she felt strength slowly return and she walked out of the church with ease. She also testified that she had consumed nothing butLourdes water for 28 days prior. Each year since on May 16, she offers asolemn Mass in thanksgiving for her cure in 1896.[5]
In September 1897, architectsDon Federico Soler andDon José García Moron began enlargement of the chapel with help from donations from a group led by García,Doña Pelagia Velásquez, andDoña Carmen Macan. On May 1, 1898, theUnited States Navy arrived in Manila, easily destroying the small Spanish fleet. The American occupiers demanded Spain’s surrender, and threatened an attack that would destroy life and property within 24 hours. The next day, hearing of the looming threat of American bombardment of the City of Manila, Capuchin Superior Fr. Alfonso de Morentinprostrated in front of theVenerada Imagen to implore they be saved from destruction, and in return he solemnly vowed to dedicate their new church to her. The deadline passed, and both city and church were spared.
On September 24, 1898, with the approval of Pedro Payo y Piñeiro,Archbishop of Manila, the new church was officially consecrated, with her as the titular patroness. The new church to Our Lady of Lourdes was inaugurated on February 3, 1910.[5]
WhenWorld War II broke out, both images of Our Lady of Lourdes were kept in thesacristy ofSan Agustín Church together with several precious artefacts 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 theUniversity of Santo Tomás and later moved to Santa Teresita Chapel on Mayon Street, Quezon City.[6]
On February 10, 1951, the two images of Our Lady of Lourdes were transferred to the new church from its temporary home in Mayon Street. The church was inaugurated on August 15, 1951, by the Archbishop of Manila,Gabriel Reyes, who officiated theMass attended by many important people includingSenate PresidentDonMariano Jesús Cuenco, and Miss Gullon, daughter of the Spanish Ambassador.[6][7]
Currently, the Shrine's altar, sanctuary andretablo are undergoing renovation andretrofitting.
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]
Six parishes have been erected within the former parochial jurisdiction of the shrine, namely:[1]
Media related toNational Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes (Quezon City) at Wikimedia Commons
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