Five Manila churches classified as ‘pilgrim churches’

MANILA, Philippines - Five churches in the Archdiocese of Manila have been classified as “pilgrim churches.”

In a statement, the Archdiocese of Manila said that the declaration of the five pilgrim churches was in line with the Catholic Church’s observance of the Year of Faith that began last Oct. 11 and will end on Nov. 24 this year.

The five churches are the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Plaza Miranda, Quiapo, Manila; Saint John the Baptist Parish in Pinaglabanan Street, San Juan City; Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in F.B. Harrison Street, Pasay City; the Archdiocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy in Maysilo Circle, Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City; and the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Sacred Heart Street, San Antonio Village, Makati City.

Catholics who would be visiting these pilgrim churches can receive plenary indulgences according to the prescribed norms – going to confession and receiving Communion and praying for the Pope the Apostles Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be.

According to the decree issued by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, a pilgrim church should “make readily available to the people of God of the Archdiocese of Manila the graces and summons of the Year of Faith as enunciated in the Apostolic Letter (of Pope Benedict XVI), Porta Fidei.”

The pilgrim churches, in its activities, should note “the pastoral recommendations by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Decree of Apostolic Penitentiary and Archdiocesan directives for the Year of Faith.”

It should also have special programs for the pilgrims on the Year of Faith.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI opened the Year of Faith on Oct. 11 last year.

The Year of Faith intends to “give renewed energy to the Church’s mission to lead men and women out of the desert in which they so often find themselves, and towards the place of life, towards friendship with Christ who gives us life in all its fullness.”