Filipinos attend the first of nine dawn masses signalling the official start of the Christmas in this file photo of the Antipolo Cathedral in Antipolo City. AFP file photo
MANILA, Philippines —The National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, or more commonly known as the Antipolo Cathedral, is set to assume its status as an international shrine on March 25, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said.
According to the CBCP, this came after the cathedral announced on Tuesday that it had received the Vatican decree elevating it to the rank of international shrine.
“It’s official. We are now elevated into an international shrine,” the church said, as cited by the CBCP.
“The decree has been sent to us by the Holy See and will be effective by March 25, 2023,” it added.
With this, there are now 11 international shrines globally, with the Antipolo Cathedral being the third in Asia.
The CBCP said that the church’s day of assumption, March 25, also coincides with the day when the image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage departed the Mexican town of Acapulco on board a galleon 397 years ago.
The galleon was battered by storms and almost caught on fire during its three-month voyage but still arrived safely on the Philippine shore on June 18, 1626, birthing the title Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.
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