Ten churches in the Archdiocese of Manila will be declared as pilgrim churches in celebration of the 500 years of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines.
The Archdiocese of Manila Office of Communications said these churches are the following:
- Manila Cathedral (Manila)
- Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene / Quiapo Church (Manila)
- Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia (Manila),
- Archdiocesan Shrine of Sto. Niño de Tondo (Manila)
- San Pablo Apostol Parish (Manila)
- Santa Clara de Montefalco Parish (Pasay)
- National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Makati)
- Sts. Peter and Paul Parish (Makati)
- San Felipe Neri Parish (Mandaluyong)
- St. John the Baptist Parish (San Juan)
The archdiocese said these pilgrim churches are to be the "centers of prayer, forgiveness, and charitable works during this jubilee year."
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has already requested the Apostolic Penitentiary for the granting of indulgences in these churches.
Father Reginald Malicdem, rector of the Manila Cathedral, believes the church was chosen as one of the pilgrim churches due to its historical significance.
"Manila is the first diocese in the Philippines and the Manila Cathedral is the first cathedral in the country. That is why Pope Francis called the Manila Cathedral as the mother church of the Philippines," he said in an interview Monday.
Monsignor Hernando Coronel, rector of Quiapo Church, felt honored by the designation.
"It is an honor for our community. I can't speak for our churches. But for us, our people are undergoing the cross of poverty through the centuries till now," he said.
"Our Lord Jesus always accompanies us in our trials and hardships in life, including the present pandemic. The Nazarene shows His caring love to Filipinos and we respond in faith and devotion," added Coronel.
Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila Bishop Broderick Pabillo will open the jubilee door of the Manila Cathedral on April 4, 2021, Easter Sunday. He will open the jubilee doors of the other pilgrim churches during Easter Week.
Jubilee churches will also be designated in other dioceses and archdioceses in the country.
The Jubilee Year will open on April 4, 2021, and will close on April 18, 2022, with the Second National Mission Congress in Cebu.