National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help

The icon of the Virgin enshrined above the altar.

The National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help (also called the Redemptorist church; popularly known as the Baclaran church) is one of the largest churches in the Philippines. The church houses one of the most venerated and celebrated Marian images in the country, called an icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, to which miraculous powers and events are ascribed. Religious devotees flock to this sanctuary every Wednesday in what has become popularly known as "Baclaran Day", and participate in a popular Marian novena offered for the Blessed Virgin Mary's reputed miraculous aid and intercession. The icon is one of the two Roman Catholic Novena devotions quite popular in Manila, along with the Black Nazarene in Quiapo.

The original icon suspended in the altar came from Germany, but was transported to Ireland then brought to the Philippines in 1906. It bears a Papal seal in the back paneling. Many Filipino Roman Catholics attribute the overwhelming attendance and devotion to the Marian icon as Baclaran Phenomenon. The parish celebrates its annual feast day on June 27, the liturgical feast day of the Marian title. Currently, the Church also serves as the main headquarters for Redemptorist priests residing in the Philippines.

The current rector is Rev. Fr. Victorino "Ino" Cueto, CSSR.

Details

The shrine is a Roman Catholic parish church under the vicariate of the parish of Santa Rita de Cascia in the Diocese of Parañaque. It is situated along Roxas Boulevard in the barangay of Baclaran in Parañaque City, Metro Manila. The present rector of the shrine is Rev. Fr. Victorino A. Cueto, C.Ss.R.

Due to the overwhelming participation of the laity each Wednesday, Novena prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary are shown on large flat-screen television screens placed all-around the perimeter of the church, making it accessible for the Roman Catholic faithful to participate in the novena service by both pamphlet and TV screen. The parish is greatly financed by many charitable social programs offered by the parish for the poor and destitute, along with extraordinary donations and mass intentions received by Filipinos both local and abroad. Because of this, the Vatican has canonically authorized the church to open for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in service to the Marian devotees.

The modern-Romanesque styled building has a full-seating capacity of 2,000, but as many as 11,000 people including standing can be inside during Masses. An estimated 120,000 devotees are currently affiliated with the shrine. Another focus point of attraction in the shrine is the Candelarium featuring an overly-lifesized mosaic of the Blessed Virgin Mary where votive candles are offered by the laity. Many Filipinos enjoy the favor of the Perpetual Help Novena was which initially introduced by the Redemptorist priests from Ireland. Blessed Pope John Paul II visited the shrine in his Apostolic Papal Visit in 1981.

History

The Redemptorist priests brought the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help to Baclaran in 1906. Wednesday has been known as Baclaran day since the first Baclaran Novena was conducted on June 23, 1948, a Wednesday. Contrary to popular belief, the Perpetual Novena did not start in Baclaran but in the province of Iloilo at the Redemptorist Church of San Clemente. After witnessing the devotion of the Ilonggos (Iloilo natives) to the Mother of Perpetual Help Novena, the Irish Redemptorist Father Gerard O'Donnell introduced the novena to Baclaran. Father Leo English conducted the first Baclaran Novena with 70 participants.

The icon and the church have undergone changes over time. In 1932, the Redemptorist priests replaced the Mother of Perpetual Help icon with a larger version to accommodate the growing number of devotees. The present church building of Modern Romanesque style is the third to be built on the same site. In December 1952, the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help was completed.

External links

• Brief History of our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran

Coordinates: 14°31′54″N 120°59′38″E / 14.531537°N 120.99381°E / 14.531537; 120.99381