Representatives of Catholic shrines in the Philippines will gather for a three-day national assembly to be hosted by the Diocese of Malolos in the Province of Bulacan.
According to Kendrick Ivan Panganiban, lay-secretary of the Association of Catholic Shrines and Pilgrimages of the Philippines (ACSP), around 700 delegates from more than 150 shrines across the country are expected to attend the event on February 4 to 6.
The 29th national assembly will focus on the theme “Shrines as Destinations of Hope and Centers of Devotion through Popular Piety.”
“This gathering aims to fulfill the wishes of the late Holy Father Francis through his 2017 Apostolic Letter ‘Sanctuarium in Ecclesia’ of holding national and international meetings for the pastoral training of rectors and lay personnel in the pastoral care of pilgrims through the development of the shrines,” explained Panganiban.
He also revealed that the Diocese of Malolos was chosen as this year’s host because of their deep appreciation of popular piety, “from which our shrines could learn of good pastoral practices for the care of pilgrims.”
The host diocese is home to two minor basilicas, four national shrines, and ten diocesan shrines. Throughout the three-day event, participants will visit seven of these churches, including the historic Barasoain Church in Malolos City.
Meanwhile, keynote addresses will mainly focus on pastoral perspectives and challenges in devotional promotion among shrine promoters and ministers.
According to the ACSP’s 2025 report, the Philippines has a total of 319 shrines, with 265 officially enrolled in the association as members. The Visayan region holds the largest number of shrines, with 87.
“This milestone reflects a 3.113% increase from the 257 shrine members recorded in 2024, signifying the growing unity, collaboration, and shared mission among Catholic shrines throughout the country,” said the ACSP.
Established in 1991, ACSP is a pastoral desk under the Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to “Foster deeper experience of community through encounters and interaction among the members, pilgrims, and devotees.”
