Jaro Cathedral, Philippines, to be declared National Marian Shrine

(January 21.2012) The Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral will be formally declared as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles on February 2, feast day of Our Lady of Candles. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines had declared on July 16, 2011 the elevation of the shrine of Our Lady of Candles into a national shrine. On February 21, 1981, the image of Our Lady of Candles was canonically crowned by the Blessed Pope John Paul II— the only Marian image in the Philippines that was canonically crowned by a Pope. The Marian image is venerated not just by the people of Jaro but also by the people of Western Visayas and beyond. On April 21, 1982, Blessed Pope John Paul II named Our Lady of Candles, as Patroness of Western Visayas. Both canonical coronation and the naming of the image as Patroness are official recognitions of what has already been a fact in the spiritual life not just of the people of Panay but also of the whole Western Visayas, and those who trace their roots to the locality. The formal declaration as National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles on February 2 will coincide with the 30th anniversary of her Canonical Coronation and of naming her as Patroness of Western Visayas. Jaro will also celebrate the 425th anniversary of the erection of Parish of Jaro, established under the care of the Augustinians on April 25, 1587 under the protection of Our Lady of the Nativity.