BACLARAN CHURCH
National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help
The National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help also known as the Redemptorist church, popularly known as the Baclaran church is a prominent Latin-rite Roman Catholic church in the Philippines.
The shrine is one of the largest Marian churches in the Philippines, authorized by the Holy See to remain open 7 days a week for 24 hours a day, and houses one of the most venerated and celebrated Marian images in the country, called Our Mother of Perpetual Help, to which miraculous powers and historic events are ascribed. The shrine serves as the main headquarters for Redemptorist priests residing in the Philippines, headed by its rector, Rev. Fr. Victorino "Ino" Cueto, C.Ss.R.
Religious devotees flock to this sanctuary every Wednesday in what has become popularly known as Baclaran Day, and participate in a popular Marian novena offered for the Blessed Virgin Mary's reputed miraculous aid and intercession.
The original icon suspended in the altar came from Germany, but was transported to Ireland then brought to the Philippines in 1906. It bears a Papal seal in the back paneling. Many Filipino Roman Catholics attribute the overwhelming attendance and devotion to the Marian icon as Baclaran Phenomenon. The parish celebrates its annual feast day on June 27, the liturgical feast day of the Marian title.
The shrine has been graced and blessed by Blessed Pope John Paul II, who visited the shrine during his Apostolic Visit in Manila in 1981.
History
According to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, the shrine and convent was originally dedicated to Saint Therese of Lisieux. A prominent statue of her in a grotto is featured in the balcony of the church honouring this proto-patronage. The Irish and Australian Redemptorists who came to Manila had two choices, both the Caloocan versus Baclaran area. The Redemptorist priests brought the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help to Baclaran in 1906. Wednesday has been known as Baclaran day since the first Baclaran Novena was conducted on June 23, 1948, a Wednesday. Contrary to popular belief, the Perpetual Novena did not start in Baclaran but in the province of Iloilo at the Redemptorist Church of San Clemente. After witnessing the devotion of the Ilonggos (Iloilo natives) to the Mother of Perpetual Help Novena, the Irish Redemptorist Father Gerard O'Donnell introduced the novena to Baclaran. Father Leo English conducted the first Baclaran Novena with 70 participants.
The icon and the church have undergone changes over time. In 1932, the Redemptorist priests replaced the Mother of Perpetual Help icon with a larger version to accommodate the growing number of devotees. The present church building of Modern Romanesque style is the third to be built on the same site. In December 1952, the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help was completed.
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