THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF ST. JUDE, MANILA

One national shrine that had long been “near yet far” for me was the National Shrine of Saint Jude Thaddeus, which I had passed many times but never truly visited. When the bishops’ January meeting was scheduled in Manila, we decided to celebrate the daily Masses outside the Pius XII Catholic Center, giving the bishops an opportunity to pray in nearby national shrines. St. Jude was among those chosen, and the Shrine Rector, Rev. Fr. Alex G. Vitualla, SVD, warmly welcomed the plan—including hosting dinner for the bishops afterward. An ocular visit to inspect the church and its facilities finally gave me the opportunity to step inside.

Located along J.P. Laurel Street in San Miguel, within the Malacañang complex, the shrine traces its origins to 1958 and was originally established as the Espíritu Santo Chinese Parish—one of three Chinese parishes of the Archdiocese of Manila. Over time, devotion to St. Jude Thaddeus grew, especially through the well-attended Thursday novena, drawing students and board exam reviewees who seek the intercession of the patron saint of “hopeless cases.”

In 1994, it was declared an Archdiocesan Shrine, and in 2010, with the endorsement of Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales and the approval of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines during its 100th plenary assembly, it was elevated to the rank of National Shrine. Today, beyond its historical roots as a personal parish for the Chinese-Filipino community, it stands as a national center of devotion—an oasis of prayer in the very heart of the country’s political district.

The bishops waiting for the entrance procession for the mass at the St. Jude Thaddeus National Shrine. 

With the Shrine Rector Fr. Alex Vitualla, SVD (second from right) and his assistant priests. 

A welcome dance was performed by some parishioners before the start of the mass. 

Fr. Alex Vitualla, SVD, the Shrine rector giving his words of welcome.

OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF OUR LADY OF LORETO AS A NATIONAL SHRINE

 

The Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Loreto in Sampaloc, Manila, was officially declared a National Shrine on May 31, 2025, by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. The solemn declaration was presided over by Jose F. Cardinal Advincula on the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, marking a historic milestone for this 412-year-old parish community.

Founded by the Franciscans in 1613, the church has long been a center of devotion to Our Lady of Loreto and the Holy Family. Though destroyed during World War II, it was rebuilt in 1958 and continues to stand as a place of refuge and prayer, especially for students, teachers, and those seeking protection from fires and other calamities.

Notably, it is the only parish in the Philippines dedicated to Our Lady of Loreto. Prior to its elevation as a National Shrine, it was declared in March 2025 an Aggregate Church (Twin Church) of the Pontifical Sanctuary of the Holy House of Loreto in Italy, strengthening its spiritual bond with the historic Marian sanctuary.

The decree of elevation, announced earlier in 2025 and signed by the CBCP, recognizes the shrine’s profound historical roots and enduring spiritual significance to the Filipino faithful—formally affirming what generations of devotees have long known: that this church is truly a sacred home in the heart of Manila.

The new retablo of the Our Lady of Loreto. 

Reading the Decree of Erection of the Our Lady of Loreto as a National Shrine. 

Sponsors and benefactors pinning ex votos beside the image of the Our Lady of Loreto

CHURCHES IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA

 This post contains the following churches in the Archdiocese of Manila:

1. MINOR BASILICA OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, Manila Metropolitan Cathedral
2. ARCHDIOCESAN SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF CORREA, Immaculate Conception Parish
San Agustin Church
3. ARCHDIOCESAN SHRINE OF SANTO NIÑO
4. ARCHDIOCESAN SHRINE OF ESPIRITU SANTO
5. MINOR BASILICA OF THE BLACK NAZARENE (Quiapo Church/Saint John the Baptist Parish)
6. ARCHDIOCESAN SHRINE OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT (Sta. Cruz Church)
7. NUESTRA SEÑORA DE GRACIA PARISH
8. HOLY CROSS PARISH (Dambana ng Banal na Krus)
9. IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH
10. OUR LADY OF REMEDIES PARISH (Malate Catholic Church)
11. Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de Guia
12. Archdiocese Shrine of Jesus the Way, the Truth and the Life, Mall of Asia, Pasay City
13. NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
14.NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL PERPETUO SOCORRO PARISH
15. OUR LADY OF PEÑAFRANCIA PARISH
16. SAN FERNANDO DE DILAO PARISH
17. PAROKYA NG INA NG LAGING SAKLOLO
18. SANTO NIÑO PARISH
19. NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE SACRED HEART
20. NUESTRA SEÑORA DE SALVACION PARISH
21. SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH (Pinaglabanan Church)
22. SAN FELIPE NERI PARISH
23. NATIONAL SHRINE OF SAINT MICHAEL AND THE ARCHANGELS
24. SAN ROQUE DE SAMPALOC PARISH
25. SAINT PETER THE APOSTLE PARISH
26. NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF THE ABANDONED
27. SAINTS PETER AND PAUL PARISH
28. San Vicente de Paul Parish,
29. MINOR BASILICA OF SAN SEBASTIAN (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish)
30. ARCHDIOCESAN SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF LORETO
31. SANCTUARY OF SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA
32. MINOR BASILICA AND NATIONAL SHRINE OF SAN LORENZO RUIZ, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish

 

1. MINOR BASILICA OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Manila Metropolitan Cathedral

Cabildo cor. Beaterio St., Intramuros, Manila

2. ARCHDIOCESAN SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF CORREA

Immaculate Conception Parish

San Agustin Church

181 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila

3. ARCHDIOCESAN SHRINE OF SANTO NIÑO

600 L. Chacon Street, Tondo, Manila

4. ARCHDIOCESAN SHRINE OF ESPIRITU SANTO

1912 Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, Manila

5. MINOR BASILICA OF THE BLACK NAZARENE
Quiapo Church/Saint John the Baptist Parish
910 Plaza Miranda, Quiapo, Manila

6. ARCHDIOCESAN SHRINE OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Plaza Sta. Cruz, Sta. Cruz, Manila

7. NUESTRA SEÑORA DE GRACIA PARISH
7440 Bernardino Street
Guadalupe Viejo, 1211 Makati City

8. HOLY CROSS PARISH
(Dambana ng Banal na Krus)
211 J.P. Rizal Street, Brgy. Tejeros, Makati City

9. IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH
287 Tayuman Street, Tondo, Manila

10. OUR LADY OF REMEDIES PARISH
(Malate Catholic Church)
2000 M.H. Del Pilar Street, Malate

11. Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de Guia M.H Del Pilar St. cor. A Flores St, Ermita Manila

12. Archdiocese Shrine of Jesus the Way, the Truth and the Life
Mall of Asia, Pasay City

13. NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
1923 Orense Street, Guadalupe
Nuevo Makati City

14.NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL PERPETUO SOCORRO PARISH
2042 Calamba cor. Instruccion
Streets, Sampaloc, Manila

15. OUR LADY OF PEÑAFRANCIA PARISH
1343 Gomez Street, Paco, Manila

16. SAN FERNANDO DE DILAO PARISH
1521 Paz Street, Paco, Manila

17. PAROKYA NG INA NG LAGING SAKLOLO
Punta, Santa Ana, Manila

18. SANTO NIÑO PARISH
Jesus Street, Pandacan, Manila

19. NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE SACRED HEART
4 Sacred Heart Street, San Antonio
Village, 1203 Makati City

20. NUESTRA SEÑORA DE SALVACION PARISH
Anonas Street, NDC Compound
Santa Mesa, 1016 Manila

21. SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH
140 Pinaglabanan Street
San Juan City

22. SAN FELIPE NERI PARISH
Boni Avenue cor. Aglipay Street
Mandaluyong City

23. NATIONAL SHRINE OF SAINT MICHAEL AND THE ARCHANGELS
1000 J.P. Laurel cor. Gen. Solano
Streets San Miguel, Manila

Picture taken in August 2019

Picture taken on Feb. 2015 before some renovations were made. 

24. SAN ROQUE DE SAMPALOC PARISH
542 M. dela Fuente Street
Sampaloc, Manila

25. SAINT PETER THE APOSTLE PARISH
1260 Pres. Quirino Avenue
Paco, Manila

 

26. NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF THE ABANDONED
New Panaderos cor. Pedro Gil Streets
Sta. Ana, 1009 Manila

27. SAINTS PETER AND PAUL PARISH
5539 D.M. Rivera Street, Poblacion,
Makati City

28. San Vicente de Paul Parish, 
San Marcelino St. Ermita, Manila  

29. MINOR BASILICA OF SAN SEBASTIAN
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish
Plaza del Carmen,   Quiapo, Manila

The main altar

The side altar with St. Joseph

The image of the Santo Niño in San Sebastian Basilica, Manila, revered as El Capitán General de Filipinas, portrays the Child Jesus as a Spanish colonial governor-general, clad in a 19th-century military gala uniform with tricorn hat, sash, frock coat, and boots, and enshrined in a side retablo.

30. ARCHDIOCESAN SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF LORETO
Jose Figueras St. Sampaloc, Manila

31. SANCTUARY OF SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA
Manrique St. Sampaloc, Manila

32. MINOR BASILICA AND NATIONAL SHRINE OF SAN LORENZO RUIZ
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish
Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz, Binondo Manila