(Photo courtesy of St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Church's Facebook page)
MANILA – The St. Catherine of Alexandria in Mambusao, Capiz, one of the oldest Spanish-era churches in the Philippines, has been declared by the Archdiocese of Capiz as an archdiocesan shrine.
"By these presents, we hereby decree that the Parish Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria be conferred the title of the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Catherine of Alexandria," Capiz Archbishop Victor Bendico said in a Nov. 21 decree made public on Thursday.
The decree was issued in response to the petition of its parish priest and the faithful.
"After having considered the petition of the Parish Priest, Rev. Jose Arturo Emilio O. Arbatin, and the community of the Parish of St. Catherine of Alexandria in Mambusao, Capiz, (we are) convinced of the merits of the said petition," the head of the Archdiocese of Capiz said.
With its status as an archdiocesan shrine, the parish church built in 1606 is granted all the rights and privileges as provided by Church laws.
"By this Decree of Erection, we likewise grant to the said Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Catherine of Alexandria all the rights and privileges as embodied in the statutes," Bendico added.
The Canon law provides the local ordinary to approve the statutes of a diocesan or archdiocesan shrine.
The title of being a shrine is normally granted to a church or other sacred place, wherein numerous members of the faithful make pilgrimage for a special reason of piety.
Once declared as a shrine, the Canon law provides that the means of salvation are to be supplied more abundantly to the faithful by the diligent proclamation of the word of God, the suitable promotion of liturgical life, the celebration of the Eucharist, of penance and the cultivation of approved forms of popular piety.
Votive offerings of popular art and piety are also expected to be kept on display in the shrines or nearby places, and guarded securely. (PNA)
