The Santo Niño Parish Church in Tacloban City is set to be elevated to an archdiocesan shrine this November.
In a Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines News post, the parish said Archbishop John Du has approved the petition to raise the parish to an archdiocesan shrine status.
The bishop has already given his positive response and we are just waiting for the issuance of the decree,” said parish priest Fr. Kelvin Apurillo.
The parish made the petition to make the church as a pilgrim destination for the faithful who want to experience both physical and spiritual healing. “The archdiocesan shrine is envisioned as a place where people can encounter the boundless and unconditional love of God. We want to make our church as a place where people can experience the mercy and compassion of God,” said Msgr. Erlito Maraya, parish priest moderator.
The canonical establishment of its elevation as an archdiocesan shrine will be held on November 1. A motorcade bearing the image of the highly revered Santo Niño was held on Oct. 15 and 16. The image will also be brought to different parishes in the archdiocese such as: Oct. 20 in Palo and Carigara; Oct. 21 in Abuyog and Burauen; and on Oct. 22 in Palompon and Ormoc City.