St. Therese Parish in Antipolo elevated to national shrine

The Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Antipolo City has been elevated to the status of a national shrine by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

The designation was approved Saturday, the opening day of the CBCP’s three-day plenary assembly in Anda, Bohol, after bishops voted in favor of the Antipolo Diocese’s petition to grant the church national shrine status.

The St. Therese Parish becomes the second national shrine in the diocese, joining the Shrine of Our Lady of Aranzazu in San Mateo, Rizal. The diocese is also home to the Philippines’ first and only international shrine, the Antipolo Cathedral.

“This is not merely an honor—it is a divine affirmation of Saint Therese’s gentle and powerful presence among us, and a call to embrace her little way of love,” Bishop Ruperto Santos of Antipolo said.

“May this new chapter invite every pilgrim and soul to encounter Christ through the simplicity, humility, and burning love that defined her life,” he said.

A national shrine is a sacred site recognized by the Church for its historical, spiritual or cultural significance. Such shrines often become popular pilgrimage destinations due to associations with miracles, apparitions or deep-rooted devotion.

To qualify for national status, a church must first be designated a diocesan shrine by the local bishop. This recognition typically follows a strong record of public worship, faith formation and social outreach.

Once these criteria are met, the parish may petition the national bishops’ conference for elevation. In the Philippines, the CBCP oversees the process of recognizing national shrines.

In 2002, then Antipolo bishop Crisostomo Yalung met with church leaders under Saint Francis Xavier Parish to propose the creation of a new parish along Marcos Highway. At the time, there was no visible church along the stretch from Katipunan to Masinag on Sumulong Highway.

The group responded positively and agreed to name the new parish in honor of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, aligning her missionary role with that of St. Francis Xavier, patron of the mother parish.

Yalung noted that the new parish, being the first in the diocese under St. Therese’s patronage, could eventually become a diocesan shrine.

Following a survey of the proposed parish area, the Filinvest East Chapel was selected as its temporary location.

On Oct. 26, 2003, a group of 17 pilgrims from the parish, led by a priest, returned from Lisieux, France, bringing with them a primary relic of St. Therese.

“This relic held significant importance in deepening the devotion to St. Therese within the community,” the parish said.

On Dec. 7, 2003, the newly appointed Bishop Gabriel Reyes elevated the quasi-parish to the status of the Parish of St. Therese of the Child Jesus.

In May 2005, ground was broken for the construction of a permanent church along Marcos Highway.

On Sept. 1, 2011, Reyes formally elevated the church to diocesan shrine status. The shrine was solemnly dedicated on Oct. 1, 2011, coinciding with the feast of St. Therese. (CBCP News)

A version of this article was first published by CBCP News.