Sta. Ana Shrine

What makes the Sta. Ana Shrine Parish different from other parishes in the archdiocese? It is not just a parish but also a shrine.

Canon 1230 and 1231 read, “The term shrine means a church or other sacred place which with the approval of the local Ordinary, is by reason of special devotion frequented by the faithful as pilgrims. For a shrine to be described as national, the approval of the Episcopal Conference is necessary.”

This year’s patronal fiesta of the Sta. Ana Shrine Parish also celebrates the 17th anniversary of the dedication of the shrine by Archbishop Emeritus of Davao, Most Reverend Fernando Capalla, D.D., in 1999.

The Sta. Ana Shrine is a place designated to foster a belief or devotion to the mother of our Blessed Virgin Mary. Pilgrims come to the shrine perhaps to fulfill a promise and/or to obtain a grace. Sta. Ana is the patroness of unmarried women, housewives, women in labor, horseback riders, cabinet-makers and miners. St. Anne is also said to be a patron saint of sailors and protector from storms. The name Ana or Anne is derived from the Hebrew Hannah, meaning “grace.”

Come to the Sta. Ana Shrine with more consciousness of the important role of the saint not only as mother to Mary but also as grandmother to our Lord Jesus Christ.

May Sta. Ana, the grandmother of Jesus, intercede for us.