National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes

National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes
Pambansang Dambana ng Mahal Birhen ng Lourdes Santuario Nacional de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes Location in Metro Manila
Location	Kanlaon Corner N.S. Amoranto Ave., (Formerly Retiro St.), Quezon City, Philippines 1114
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	www.nsollqc.com
History
Former name(s)	Parish of Sta. Teresita del Niño Jesus
Status	National shrine
Founded	1892 (First church) 1950 (Current church)
Founder(s)	Capuchins
Dedication	Our Lady of Lourdes
Associated people	Manuel Flores (sculptor of the first two images of Our Lady of Lourdes)
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Style	Neoclassic
Groundbreaking	January 30, 1950
Completed	1951
Demolished	1945 (First church, Battle of Manila)
Specifications
Materials	Reinforced concrete
Administration
Archdiocese	Archdiocese of Manila
Diocese	Diocese of Cubao
Clergy
Archbishop	Most Rev. Luis Antonio Cardinal G. Tagle, D.D.
Bishop(s)	Most Rev. Honesto F. Ongtioco, D.D.
Priest(s)	Rev. Fr. William T. Bustamante, O.F.M. Cap. (Parish Priest)
Assistant priest(s)	Rev. Fr. Dominic B. Abella, O.F.M. Cap. (Asst. Parish Priest)

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes is a church under the care of the Order of the Friars Minor Capuchin of the Philippine Ecclesiastical Province and under the vicariate of Santuario de San Pedro Bautista of the diocese of Cubao. The original church was located in Intramuros until it was destroyed during the World War II. In 1951, the recovered images of Our Lady of Lourdes was transferred to its current location. The altar image was placed at the sacristy of the San Agustin Church in Intramuros for safe keeping during the war. And the Besa Pie was hidden in a safe house in Tondo, under the care of the brother of Mr. Salonga, the manager of the Catholic Bank of Monte de Piedad.

Established August 15, 1951, the parish is known as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. Its feast day is February 11. The titular is Our Lady of Lourdes

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 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.

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 Sta. 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 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.

On February 10, 1951, the two images of Our Lady of Lourdes were 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, Monsignor Reyes who officiated at the mass which was attended by many important people including the President of the Philippine Senate, Don Mariano Jesus Cuenco who represented the Spanish Embassy and Miss Gullon, daughter of the Ambassador.

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

Right Side (East)

Left Side (West)

The Main Entrance

View from the Main Entrance

Close up of the Altar

Jursidiction

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

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

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes covers six parishes:

• 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).

Priests

Current clergy

• Rev. Fr. William T. Bustamante, OFMCap. (Parish Priest)
• Rev. Fr. Dominic B. Abella, OFMCap. (Assistant Parish Priest)

Prior clergy

• 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 (present)

External links

• National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes
• The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao
• Pinoy Churces
• Boundaries