THE NATIONAL SHRINE AND PARISH OF ST. JOHN PAUL II IN CULIS, HERMOSA, BATAAN

Last April 1, 2023, the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. John Paul II in Culis, Hermosa, Bataan was solemnly declared as a National Shrine.  The mass was presided by the CBCP President, Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, the bishop of Kalookan.  He was joined by seven other bishops: Cardinal Jose Advincula, Bp. Stud Santos of Balanga, Bps. Talaoc, Bendico, Jaucian, Buco and Macaraeg.

The church was actually erected only in 2021 as a parish and a diocesan Shrine in honor of St. John Paul II. However, the beginnings of the shrine dates to 2011 during the 30^th anniversary of the Apostolic Visit of Pope John Paul II to the refugee center in Morong, Bataan where he celebrated mass for the “boat people” from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia who were fleeing from the Indochina war. The place was declared a diocesan shrine. Due to the inclusion of the original site within the Bataan Technology Park, the diocese was forced to transfer to this new site.   

St. John Paul II National Shrine and Parish (F-2021)

Culis, Hermosa, Bataan

Eight bishops attended the solemn declaration as a National Shrine of the St. John Paul National Shrine and Parish last April 1, 2023. The mass was presided by the CBCP President, Bp. Pablo Virgilio David. 

Before it was declared a National Shrine the image at the main altar was a mosaic of the Divine Mercy with St. John Paul II kneeling in front. The liturgical commission deemed that the crucifix is the proper icon to be placed at the main altar. Hence, it was changed and the mosaic was placed by the door to the museum which is still being finished.