Antipolo Cathedral now PH and Asia’s first international shrine

FILE PHOTO: The Shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, or Antipolo Cathedral, attracts pilgrims and devotees year-round. —CLIFFORD NUÑEZ

MANILA, Philippines — Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Most Rev. Charles John Brown said on Friday that popular piety was a manifestation of the richness of culture and faith in the country.

In his homily during the declaration of the Antipolo Cathedral as the Philippines’ first international shrine, the papal nuncio gave examples of where faith and culture met, such as the celebrations of Traslacion, Sinulog, and Simbang Gabi.

READ: Antipolo Cathedral to be declared first PH int’l shrine

“All of these are examples of the richness, the patrimony, the treasure of Philippine popular religiosity. Popular piety. And I’m here to tell you that for me, as a non-Filipino having lived here for three years, it is so edifying and wonderful to see this evidence of the popular piety of the Filipino people,” Brown said.

“Embodied in a culture, that is exactly what we see in the Philippines. Faith, embodied in a culture, manifesting in popular piety. A faith that arrived and was received here 503 years ago, which has penetrated the culture, the minds, the hearts, the history of the Filipino nation,” he added,”

Brown said that popular piety can also be a way for people to connect with the Church, and can lead them to a deeper expression of faith.

“Popular piety is a manifestation of people’s connectedness to the faith. […] But popular piety can be a link, a connection to many people who may not be practicing their faith by coming to mass every Sunday but still have this wonderful, beautiful connection to the Church, and have faith,” he said.

In 2022, the Vatican declared the National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage as the country’s and Asia’s first international shrine.