Celebrate the Shrine’s glorious Silver!

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By Sis Aurora delos Reyes

Euphoria! –pure and simple.

This was the prevailing atmosphere in the entire Order of Friars Minor Capuchin and Parish community on the 24th of January, 1997  when Lourdes Church was elevated into what it is now- the National SHRINE of Our Lady of Lourdes.

It was indeed a recognition well-deserved after going under the rubble of World War II and having the original church then situated in Intramuros almost totally destroyed with only the venerated Marian image miraculously spared from becoming a thing of the past.

Like the enduring mark of the valorous Capuchin character, the younger brothers together with a handful of lay survivors of the bombing struggled on in its quest for a safe foothold of their most prized possession.

Finally, on the solemn Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption on August 15, 1951 from its temporary resting place at the Sta Teresita Parish in Mayon Street, the preserved image of Our Lady was fittingly transferred through a procession of an astonishingly unbroken line of devotees representing different Catholic associations bearing their respective banners & colorful dresses- described by witnesses “like a sea of burning hearts” making it through the exit gates in Mayon proceeding on a little more than a kilometer walk to the entrance of what has until now been its permanent home along Retiro Street.

No less than the Archbishop of Manila, Monsignor Gabriel M. Reyes officiated at the inaugural mass which was attended by prominent personalities including Don Mariano Jesus Cuenco, then President of the Philippine Senate and the venerable Dona Natividad de Tuazon who donated the La Loma property lot on which the new church was built.

The devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes grew more regular, intense and widespread with the observance of numerous Marian activities that an eventual clamor for its elevation emerged. Not much has been written about the process of promotion but with much elation that pervaded the Community under the able administration of Reverend Father Troadio “Fr Troy” de los Santos, OFMCap. (1994-2002), one of the longer-serving Parish Priests, that momentous occasion was the one most embraced. The succeeding stewards of the Parish from Rev. Fr. Mario Dorado, OFMCap. (2002-2005), Rev. Fr. Ramon Atanacio, OFMCap. (2005-2011), Rev. Fr. Chito Bartolo, OFMCap. (2011-2014), Rev. Fr. William Bustamante, OFMCap. (2014-2017) to Rev. Fr. Cesar Acuin, OFMCap. (2017-2021) have, with circumspect, handed down a precious legacy of preserving the Shrine as it is now- more pronounced with its Marian livery of white and blue.

The well-loved, humble and Spirit-infused Capuchin Fathers have opened the hearts of the people and continued to successfully spread the Sacraments thereby, fulfilling the purpose and mission of sanctifying souls. Through the years, the Shrine has become a staunch symbol of Marian devotion; a spiritual refuge of many, especially in moments of pain and sickness and a haven for miracles and answered prayers.

Not even the throes of a prolonged pandemic would hinder the desire of uniting the faithful in coming together even amidst many uncertainties under an undaunted shepherd, Rev. Fr. Jefferson Agustin, OFMCap. with the support of the NSOLL Capuchin Fraternity and an equally resolute cast of dedicated Parish Pastoral Council members and Ministry servants.

A milestone has been reached and will be pursued with the Shrine being developed further into being a prime pilgrimage site and more as it treads on the path towards its golden years and beyond.

For now, together let us lift our hands and raise our spirits as how we have done it in our glorious past and bask in the euphoria of our Silver moment.

#NSOLLPH #LoudesOFFICIAL