Peñafrancia Basilica
| Peñafrancia Basilica | |
|---|---|
| Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Peñafrancia Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia |
|
The facade of the Peñafrancia Basilica
|
|
| 13°37′55″N 123°12′00″E / 13.63194°N 123.20000°ECoordinates: 13°37′55″N 123°12′00″E / 13.63194°N 123.20000°E | |
| Location | Naga City |
| Country |
 Philippines
|
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founder(s) | ArchbishopTeopisto V. Alberto |
| Dedication | Our Lady of Penafrancia |
| Dedicated | May 22, 1985 |
| Consecrated | May 22, 1985 |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Minor Basilica |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church building |
| Style | Modern architecture |
| Groundbreaking | 1976 |
| Completed | 1982 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1,500 sitting, 2,700 standing |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Caceres |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Rolando Joven Tria Tirona |
The Peñafrancia Minor Basilica or the Minor Basilica of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia (Spanish: Basílica Minore de Peñafrancia) is a Roman Catholic Minor Basilica located on the outskirts of Naga City—also known as the Pilgrim City and Queen City of Bicol—in the Bicol Region of the Philippines. It is one of the largest Marian Pilgrimage Sites in Asia. The Image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is enshrined in this sanctuary. Rev. Fr. Rodel Cajot is the present Rector of the Basilica, having been appointed in 2011.
It is the only Basilica in the Bicol Region and the whole Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Caceres.
The concept for the building came from the late Archbishop Pedro Paulo Santos y Songco in 1960. Construction began on April 18, 1976, but was delayed for a number of years due to financing problems and was not completed until September 1981.
On May 22, 1982, it was dedicated as The Church of Nuestra Señora de Peña de Francia and it wasn't until May 22, 1985 that the church was given the title of "Basilica Minore" from Rome after a request from the third Archbishop of Caceres, Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P., D.D.
The Peñafrancia Basilica Minore houses an image of the virgin Mary that was sculpted in 1710. It was commissioned by Miguel de Cobarrubias, who moved to the Philippines from Spain with his family and believed that the virgin Mary had helped him numerous times in his life. The image was housed in a small chapel until the Basilica Minore was constructed.
Archbishop Pedro P. Santos noted that the devotees and pilgrims kept increasing through the years. In 1960, he dreamt of building a basilica to give honor to Our Lady. Shortly after, through the meditation of the Archbishop Emeritus Teopisto V. Alberto, D.D. and the Association of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Mr and Mrs. Macario Mariano donated a three hectare lot at barrio Balatas. Bishop Concordio Sarte initiated the ground work of the construction. Blessing and laying of the cornerstone was held on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1976 having Church dignitaries led by Cardinal Jaime Sin and prominent Bicolano sponsors.
...
Wikipedia