The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang,[2] commonly known as Our Lady of Guibang Shrine, is a Roman Catholic parish church and pilgrimage site situated at Brgy. Guibang, Gamu, Isabela, Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Ilagan. The shrine is consecrated to the pilgrim image of Blessed Virgin Mary of Guibang.
| Our Lady of Guibang Shrine | |
|---|---|
| National Shrine of Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang | |
.svg)  Our Lady of Guibang Shrine Location in Luzon .svg) Our Lady of Guibang Shrine Location in the Philippines | |
| 17°03′26″N 121°51′11″E / 17.0572795°N 121.8531079°E | |
| Location | Brgy. Guibang, Gamu, Isabela |
| Country | Philippines |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang Chapel |
| Status | National Shrine |
| Founded | January 1986 |
| Founder(s) | Most Rev. Miguel G. Purugganan, D.D. |
| Dedication | Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang |
| Dedicated |
|
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church building |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick, Sand, Stone, Gravel, Cement, Steel, Concrete |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Tuguegarao |
| Diocese | Ilagan |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Most Rev. Ricardo L. Baccay, D.D |
| Bishop(s) | Most Rev. David William V. Antonio, D.D. |
| Priest in charge | Rev. Fr. Amadeo L. Vinasoy |
The shrine is frequented by travelers passing by the Maharlika Highway. It comes alive every year on July when religious pilgrims visit to offer prayers during its feast day. The pilgrim image of the Our Lady of the Visitation was episcopally crowned by Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Carmine Rocco on May 26, 1973, at the former Saint Ferdinand Cathedral (now Saint Ferdinand Parish Church) in Ilagan. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines at its 52nd Annual Bishop's Meeting held in Tagaytay in January 24–26, 1986 approved the petition of former Bishop of the Diocese of Ilagan Miguel Purugganan, for the church to be called a National Shrine. The church was declared as the Philippines’ eighth national shrine on February 13, 1986.[3] It is the only national shrine in the northern Ecclesiastical Province of Tuguegarao, comprising the Tuguegarao archdiocese and the dioceses of Ilagan and Bayombong.
The rebuilding of the larger church began in last quarter of 2018. While the construction was ongoing, liturgical services and devotional activities were held in the adjacent Poor Clare Monastery. Built on the same location, the church was expanded from its original 750-square-meter floor area to 1,100 square meters. It can now hold around 750 seats and a full-standing area capacity of around 1,200 people. On February 3, 2023, Papal nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown joined the clergy of the Diocese of Ilagan in the blessing and dedication of the newly rebuilt and larger pilgrim church.[4][5]
References
edit- ^ "Papal nuncio dedicates newly rebuilt national shrine in Isabela province". Philippines Licas News. philiplineslicasnews. February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
- ^ "National Shrine of Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang Official Facebook Page". Facebook. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
- ^ "National Shrine of Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang - Diocese of Ilagan". Official Website of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
- ^ "Papal nuncio dedicates newly rebuilt national shrine in Isabela". Interaksyon. February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
- ^ "Hundreds of devotees attended the solemn dedication of the newly rebuilt National Shrine of Our Lady of the Visitation in Gamu, Isabela". Gina Marquez of Bombo Radyo. bomboradyo.com. February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.