MANILA, March 4, 2013— Catholics may gain plenary indulgence by visiting at least five churches in the Archdiocese of Manila.
The archdiocese said that the declaration of the “pilgrim churches” is in line with the observance of the Year of Faith that started last October 11 and will end on Nov. 24, this year.
The designated plenary indulgence pilgrimage sites include the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila; and the Saint John the Baptist Parish in Pinaglabanan Street, San Juan City.
The three other churches are the Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in F.B. Harrison Street, Pasay City; the Archdiocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy in Maysilo Circle, Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City; and the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Sacred Heart Street, San Antonio Village, Makati City.
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said that a pilgrim church should “make readily available to the people of God of the Archdiocese of Manila the graces and summons of the Year of Faith as enunciated in the Apostolic Letter (of Pope Benedict XVI), Porta Fidei.”
He said that the pilgrim churches, in its activities, should note “the pastoral recommendations by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Decree of Apostolic Penitentiary and Archdiocesan directives for the Year of Faith.”
Tagle added that the churches should also have special programs for the pilgrims on the Year of Faith.
The archdiocese added that pilgrims visiting the five churches can obtain plenary indulgence according to prescribe norms – going to confession and receiving Holy Communion and praying for the Pope the Apostles Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be.
In Bicol, Caceres Archbishop Rolando Tirona has also classified five churches as pilgrimage churches for the Year of Faith.
These include the Holy Cross Parish (Nabua, Camarines Sur), Mary Magdalene Parish (Bula, Camarines Sur), Immaculate Conception Parish (Quipayo, Camarines Sur), Naga Metropolitan Cathedral St. John the Evangelist Parish, and the Basilica Minore de Peñafrancia.
The churches, apart from the basilica, are the oldest in the archdiocese.
In November 2012, the Diocese of Cubao declared has declared Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Shrine in New Manila and the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Project 6, both in Quezon City, as a pilgrim churches. (CBCPNews)
