The Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Light, Cainta, Rizal

          I happened to visit the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Light in Cainta, Rizal, when I presided over the funeral Mass of a distant relative at a mortuary chapel near the parish. As another funeral was being held simultaneously in the parish church, the family opted to celebrate the Mass at the chapel instead. Since the church was only a short distance away, I took the opportunity to visit it after the Mass.

         Since my last visit in 2016, the parish has been elevated to the status of a Diocesan Shrine in 2018. The main retablo has undergone notable renovations, as have the side altars flanking the sanctuary.

      The venerated image of Our Lady of Light, enshrined in the main retablo, is a recreation of the original image that was destroyed during the Filipino-American War in 1899. The present image was painted by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo. It is said to be the first Marian image in Philippine history to be pontifically crowned as an artistic painting. When the image was crowned on December 1, 2018, the church itself was also elevated to the rank of a Diocesan Shrine.

DIOCESAN SHRINE AND PARISH OF OUR LADY OF LIGHT (F- 1760)
Cainta, Rizal

To see previous blog on the church of Cainta click here. 

Official Declaration of St. Paul of the Cross Parish in Marikina City as a Minor Basilica

            Last October 26, 2025, I attended the official declaration of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Paul of the Cross in SSS Village, Concepcion Dos, Marikina City—within the Diocese of Antipolo—as a Minor Basilica. The parish had submitted its petition to the episcopal conference last year, on the occasion of the 330th birth anniversary of St. Paul of the Cross (1694–2024) and the 50th anniversary of the parish (1974–2024). During its meeting on November 27, 2024, the Permanent Council approved the endorsement of the petition to the Holy See for the elevation of the diocesan shrine and parish to the rank of Minor Basilica.

The main altar

The side altar on the left facing the altar

The papal chair and the ombrellone which are signs of a minor basilica. 

The side altar to the right facing the altar. 

The parish also has a pontifically crowned image of the Our Lady of Fatima. The coronation was done last May 12, 2024.

The Papal Nuncio delivering his homily during the celebration. 

The Papal Nuncio, Bishop Stud Santos of Antipolo and the Shrine Rector Fr. Vicentico Flores. 

The official decree proclaiming the Diocesan Shrine and Parish as a Minor Basilica being handed by the Papal Nuncio to Bp. Santos of Antipolo.

The Shrine Rector and parish priest Fr. Vicentico Flores giving his words of thanks. 

The church was filled with church goers during the official declaration as a Minor Basilica. 

The belltower is a free standing structure in front of the church. 

Declaration as a National Shrine of the Our Lady of Aranzazu in San Mateo, Rizal, Diocese of Antipolo

           On August 22, 2025, the Parish of Our Lady of Aranzazu in San Mateo, Rizal, Diocese of Antipolo, was officially declared as the National Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Aranzazu. The solemn celebration was presided over by His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization – Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches.

Joining him were Most Rev. Ruperto Santos, Bishop of Antipolo, together with Archbishop Marlo Peralta of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia (Vigan) and Bishop Eugenius Cañete of the Diocese of Gumaca.

The declaration followed the decision made during the 129th Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on January 25, 2025, where the shrine was approved to be elevated to national status. The historic occasion drew thousands of devotees from near and far, all gathered in joyful thanksgiving to honor the Blessed Virgin under her beloved title, Our Lady of Aranzazu.

 

The main altar of the Our Lady of Aranzazu

At the back of the altar is a veil that connects to the image of the Our Lady of Aranzazu that devotees could touch while paying their respects. 

Showing to the congregation the official decree of erection of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aranzazu after reading it. 

Bishop Stud Santos, the bishop of Antipolo and Fr. Rodrigo Eguia, Shrine Rector and Parish Priest accepting the official decree. 

The side altar

The side altar 

A formal picture after the celebration with the bishops present and the Shrine Rector