National Shrine of Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang

17°03′26″N 121°51′11″E / 17.0572795°N 121.8531079°E / 17.0572795; 121.8531079LocationBrgy. Guibang, Gamu, IsabelaCountryPhilippinesDenominationRoman CatholicHistoryFormer name(s)Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang ChapelStatusNational ShrineFoundedJanuary 1986Founder(s)Most Rev. Miguel G. Purugganan, D.D.DedicationOur Lady of the Visitation of GuibangDedicatedArchitectureFunctional statusActiveArchitectural typeChurch buildingSpecificationsMaterialsBrick, Sand, Stone, Gravel, Cement, Steel, ConcreteAdministrationArchdioceseTuguegaraoDioceseIlaganClergyArchbishopMost Rev. Ricardo L. Baccay, D.DBishop(s)Most Rev. David William V. Antonio, D.D.Priest in chargeRev. Fr. Amadeo L. Vinasoy

The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang^[2] (Filipino: Pambansang Dambana at Parokya ng Mahal na Birhen ng Guibang; Spanish: Sanctuario Nacional y Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Visitacion de Guibang), commonly known as Our Lady of Guibang Shrine, is a Roman Catholic parish church and pilgrimage site situated at Brgy. Guibang, Gamu, Isabela, Philippines. The shrine is consecrated to the pilgrim image of Blessed Virgin Mary of Guibang.

The shrine is frequented by travelers passing by the Maharlika Highway. It comes alive every year on July when religious pilgrims visit to offer prayers during its feast day. The pilgrim image of the Our Lady of the Visitation was episcopally crowned by Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Carmine Rocco on 26 May 1973 at the former Saint Ferdinand Cathedral (now Saint Ferdinand Parish Church) in Ilagan. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines at its 52nd Annual Bishop's Meeting held in Tagaytay in 24–26 January 1986 approved the petition of former Bishop of the Diocese of Ilagan Miguel Purugganan, for the church to be called a National Shrine. The church was declared as the Philippines’ eighth national shrine on 13 February 1986.^[3] It is the only national shrine in the northern Ecclesiastical Province of Tuguegarao, comprising the Tuguegarao archdiocese and the dioceses of Ilagan and Bayombong.

The rebuilding of the larger church began in last quarter of 2018. While the construction was ongoing, liturgical services and devotional activities were held in the adjacent Poor Clare Monastery. Built on the same location, the church was expanded from its original 750-square-meter floor area to 1,100 square meters. It can now hold around 750 seats and a full-standing area capacity of around 1,200 people. On February 3, 2023, Papal nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown joined the clergy of the Diocese of Ilagan in the blessing and dedication of the newly rebuilt and larger pilgrim church.^[4][5]

References

External links

• National Shrine of Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang on Facebook