St. Peter the Apostle Parish and Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Extremadura, popularly known as Loboc Church, has officially been affiliated to the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.

Fr. Al John A. Miñoza, parish priest, expressed elation over the declaration of the church as a diocesan shrine and its affiliation to the St. Mary Major in Rome as decreed by the Apostolic Penitentiary and signed by Major Penitentiary Maurus Cardinal Piacenza.

"St. Peter the Apostle Parish and Diocesan Shrine of N.S. (Nuestra Señora) De Guadalupe de Extremadura is officially affiliated to Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. Indeed, God make all things possible in his time!,” Miñoza said in a Facebook post.

In a Facebook post on April 24, St. Peter the Apostle Parish announced that it has been granted "Spiritual Affiliation/Bond" to the papal basilica.

“The Apostolic Penitentiary has issued a Decree as petitioned by the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome to grant Spiritual Affiliation/Bond of the Basilica to St. Peter the Apostle Parish of Loboc - the home of the century-old Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Extremadura,” it said.

The Basilica of St. Mary Major is considered as one of the oldest and most important shrines in the world dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It houses a relic of the manger of the baby Jesus from Bethlehem and the painting of the Blessed Mother known as the Salus Populi Romani (The Salvation of the Roman People).

In an interview with the Manila Bulletin, the 39-year-old Miñoza said, "The declaration of the church as Diocesan Shrine promotes our Boholanos' Marian spirituality and being affiliated to the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major is an honor and great privilege among our people for plenary indulgences may gain throughout the year.”

"We are the ninth Marian parish so far being affiliated to papal basilica and first in the Visayas,” he noted.

He encouraged the faithful to visit Loboc Church as "plenary indulgence is granted to those who will do pilgrimage to the church not only this time of Jubilee Year but for perpetuity.”

An indulgence is the remission of the temporal punishment due to sins, which have already been forgiven.

With the Apostolic Penitentiary’s issuance of a Decree, the spiritual merits given by the Basilica will also be given to All Churches affiliated to it, the parish’s announcement read.

"Thus the faithful may receive plenary indulgences on the following terms:

-Feast of the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major on August 5;

-Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Extremadura - Secondary Patroness of Loboc on May 24;

-All Marian Major Solemnities (Assumption of Our Lady on August 15, Immaculate Conception of Mary on December 8, Motherhood of Mary - January 1);

-Once a year on a day freely chosen by each member of the faithful (pilgrim);

-Every time the faithful go for devotion in groups to the Church.

To receive the plenary indulgence, the faithful should meet the following conditions:

-Sacramental Confession

-Eucharistic Communion

-Prayers for the Intention of the Pope

-The Repudiation of all forms of sins

-Participation of all Liturgical Celebrations and Recitation of the Lord's Prayer and the Creed

The Loboc Church will be officially declared as the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Extremadura on Monday, May 24, together with its Spiritual Bond of Affinity with the Basilica of St. Mary Major as decreed by the Apostolic Penitentiary.

"The Solemn Rite of Declaration of the Apostolic Decrees will be on 24th of May 2021 on the Devotional Feast of the Our Lady of Guadalupe de Extremadura, St. Peter the Apostle Parish - Loboc Bohol!,” read the parish’s Facebook post.

Tagbilaran Bishop Alberto S. Uy approved the parish’s petition and granted the additional Ecclesial Title to St. Peter the Apostle Parish as Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Extremadura

The parish thanked Uy for "recognizing the impact of the devotion to Our Lady in the lives of the many (both Lobocanons and Non-Lobocanons).”