MAASIN CITY in Southern Leyte, central Philippines, is buzzing with excitement following the elevation of its 17th-century Cathedral to a national shrine, a decision that has thrilled church officials and residents alike.
Monsignor Oscar Cadayona, vicar-general of the Diocese of Maasin, described the declaration of the Maasin Cathedral Church—also known as the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Assumption—as a symbol of “the outpouring of graces to all of us devotees to the Beloved Our Lady of Assumption.”
With its new status, the shrine now falls under the governance of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), marking a significant shift from diocesan statutes, Monsignor Cadayona confirmed to The Samar Chronicle.
“We anticipate an influx of pilgrims from across the archipelago,” Monsignor Cadayona expressed optimistically about the Cathedral’s new designation.
This landmark decision makes it the first national shrine in the Eastern Visayas region, predominantly Catholic with a population exceeding four million.
Mayor Nacional Mercado hailed Maasin City as “Eastern Visayas’ religious and pilgrimage capital, a sanctuary for spiritual seekers.”
The announcement was made during the CBCP’s 128th plenary assembly in Cagayan De Oro City on July 6.
In addition to Maasin Cathedral, the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy in Novaliches, Quezon City, was also granted national shrine status by over 70 attending bishops.
“We are deeply honored and blessed by the approval of our Maasin Cathedral as a National Shrine. The overwhelming unity and support of the Maasinhon community, especially from the Diocese of Maasin, have been truly heartening,” Mayor Mercado remarked.
“Let us continue fostering mutual understanding. Together, let us pray with unwavering hope for God and Mama Mary’s blessings upon our beloved city, guiding us towards continued prosperity that benefits all our constituents,” he added.
As a national shrine, the CBCP acknowledges the Maasin Cathedral as a focal point for devotion and pilgrimage.
Plans for a formal celebration are underway pending consultations with the shrine council, parish pastoral council, and city government, Monsignor Cadayona disclosed.
Established as a parish by Jesuit missionaries in 1771, Maasin has been dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption since 1843 under the Franciscans. Elevated to a Cathedral in 1968, the Diocese of Maasin chose Our Lady of the Assumption as its patroness.
The Cathedral’s revered image of Our Lady of the Assumption received an episcopal coronation led by former Archbishop of Manila Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle on August 15, 2018, according to the CBCP. Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown officiated the shrine’s episcopal coronation rite on August 13, 2022.
“It’s a long-awaited recognition for Maasin Cathedral, known throughout the region for its deep religious significance,” commented Marcelino Pedalino, 61, a devout Catholic and resident of Maasin.
By Ronald O. Reyes; Featured photo courtesy of Reginald de Guia
