Pope Francis declares Bulacan’s La Purisima Concepcion Church as minor basilica

Pope Francis declares Bulacan’s La Purisima Concepcion Church as minor basilica

The newly designated Basílica Menor de la Purísima Concepción in Santa Maria, Bulacan. PHOTO COURTESY OF RANZ JOSEPH VILLAMIL

By CBCP News

March 21, 2021

Manila, Philippines

Pope Francis has elevated a historic church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bulacan province to the rank of minor basilica.

The La Purisima Concepcion Parish Church in Sta. Maria town was granted the title by the pope in an announcement from the Diocese of Malolos on Sunday evening.

Bishop Dennis Villarojo of Malolos announced the church’s new status on March 21 in a video message to the parishioners.

“This designation is Holy Father Pope Francis’ unique recognition of your strong faith especially in this time of pandemic,” Villarojo said.

“It also proves the unique bond between the church in Rome and the Holy Father in our parish,” he said.

Founded by the Franciscan missionaries 1792, the parish is one of the unique Marian centers of the diocese.

The church is home to the revered image of La Purisima Concepcion de Santa Maria, which received canonical coronation on February 1, 2020.

The church is the second minor basilica under the diocese, next to the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception or the Malolos Cathedral, and the 18th in the Philippines.

DONATE TO CBCP NEWS

CBCPNews is a church-based news agency operated by the Media Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.  This apostolate aims at helping the work of the new evangelization through the news media.  This is non-commercial and non-profit.  That being the case, it totally depends on generosity of its readers and supporters.

Should you wish to donate kindly press the donate button.  Thank you.