Augustinians to turn over Guadalupe Church to Manila archdiocese

COUPLES’ PICK The church, a popular wedding venue in Metro Manila, was recently featured in the TV series “Can’t Buy Me Love,” starring Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano. —OSA Province of Santo Niño de Cebu–Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — After more than 50 years of being under the care of Augustinian friars, the administration of the Parish of Nuestra Señora de Gracia in Makati City, more popularly known as Guadalupe Church, will be transferred to the Archdiocese of Manila.

The highlight of the turnover ceremony on June 16 will be a Mass to be presided over by Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula, the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA), Province of Santo Niño de Cebu-Philippines, said in a statement.

Transition works will continue until Aug. 1. Fr. Aimark Asor, the church’s current and last Augustinian parish priest, will formally hand over the administration to Fr. Joselito Martin, the incoming parish priest, with Fr. Jose Francisco Syquia as parochial vicar.

READ: Nuestra Señora de Gracia Parish to be turned over to Manila archdiocese

The Augustinians will also transfer the Monasterio de Guadalupe Community, a religious house and seminary built beside the church, to the archdiocese.

Fr. Alejandro Moral Anton, OSA prior general, approved the community’s dissolution effective on the same day of the transfer.

The Augustinians established the Baroque-style church and monastery in 1601. They eventually left the monastery and the church in ruins in the late 1890s, during the Philippine Revolution.

After 75 years, in June 1970, the friars were recalled to Makati through an agreement between then Manila Archbishop Rufino Cardinal Santos and Fr. Casimiro Garcia, then vicar of the Augustinians.

Under the agreement, the Augustinians would be responsible for the church restoration and administration of the parish for 50 years, subject to renewal and extension.