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Santa Cruz Church (Manila)

Coordinates: 14°35′56″N 120°58′49″E / 14.599°N 120.9804°E / 14.599; 120.9804
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Santa Cruz Church
Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar
Archdiocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament
  • Basilika Menor at Parokya ng Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila, at Pang-Arkidiyosesis na Dambana ng Kabanal-Banalang Sakramento (Filipino)
  • Basílica Menor y Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila, y Santuario Arqudiocesano del Santísimo Sacramento (Spanish)
Newly-renovated façade in May 2024
Map
14°35′56″N 120°58′49″E / 14.599°N 120.9804°E / 14.599; 120.9804
LocationSanta Cruz, Manila
CountryPhilippines
DenominationRoman Catholic
Religious instituteCongregation of the Blessed Sacrament
WebsiteSanta Cruz Parish
History
StatusMinor Basilica
Archdiocesan Shrine
Founded1768; 257 years ago (1768)
Founder(s)Jesuits
DedicationOur Lady of the Pillar
Other dedicationBlessed Sacrament
Relics heldPeter Julian Eymard
Charles Lwanga
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architectural typeChurch building
StyleMission Revival
Completed1957; 68 years ago (1957)
Specifications
Number of domes1
Number of towers1
MaterialsConcrete
Administration
ArchdioceseManila
DeaneryJose de Trozo[1]
ParishOur Lady of the Pillar
Clergy
RectorMarc Bryan Adona, SSS
Assistant priest(s)Lenen Deciar

The Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, also known as the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament or simply Santa Cruz Parish, is a Roman Catholic minor basilica in the district of Santa Cruz, Manila, Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Manila. The church was built when the arrabal (suburb) of Santa Cruz was established by the Jesuits in the early 17th century. The church had undergone many repairs and reconstruction, with the last reconstruction done in the 1950s.

It is the first mission and motherhouse of Filipino Sacramentinos, making it as the center of the congregation’s activities and events. Every year, the shrine hosts the archdiocesan celebrations of the Feast of Corpus Christi in the Archdiocese of Manila. A Mass is said by the Archbishop of Manila at 3:15 p.m., followed by a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Manila Cathedral.[2]

History

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Church HRMC historical marker installed in 1937

The Jesuits built the first Catholic church in the area where the present Santa Cruz Parish stands on June 20, 1619. The original church design was made of stone and wood.[3] The Jesuits enshrined the image of Our Lady of the Pillar in 1643, and ministered to predominantly Chinese residents in the area.[4] On June 3, 1863, an earthquake destroyed the church. Agustín de Mendoza began reconstruction on the church in 1868.[5] In 1938, revolutionary, labour leader, and writer Isabelo de los Reyes was buried within the church.

The original structure of the church was twice damaged by earthquakes, and then completely destroyed in the Battle of Manila during World War II. The present building, completed in 1957, is in the Spanish baroque and Mission Revival styles.[4] Art Deco and Romanesque design influences the interior decoration of the church.

On August 15, 1957, the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament began administering the church.[5] In 1984, then-Archbishop of Manila Cardinal Jaime Sin restored the official name of the church to Santa Cruz Parish. He kept Our Lady of the Pillar as its titular patroness, and named as secondary patron St. Peter Julian Eymard, founder of the Sacramentinos.[6]

Pope Francis granted the canonical coronation of the enshrined image of Our Lady of the Pillar on December 7, 2017.[7]

On January 5, 2000, the parish's pastoral council petitioned its former parish priest, Francisco Mendoza, to seek official recognition of the church as a shrine.[8] On June 3, 2018, it was officially raised to the rank of archdiocesan shrine by then-Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.[7]

On March 25, 2025, Pope Francis conferred the title of Minor Basilica to the church.[6]

Architecture

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The church façade is characteristically Mission Revival with Ionic piers vertically dividing the first two levels in three parts. Three semicircular arch doorways form as main entrance to the church. A Celtic-like window flanked by small semicircular windows is found at the center of the second level. Forming as the pediment, the topmost level has its raking cornice in undulating liens emanating from the broken pediment found above the statued niche. The domed belfry rises on the right in six levels.[9]

The church façade is topped with a statue of Our Lady of the Pillar, the patroness of the church, whose feast is held every 3rd Sunday of October.

  • The façade relief surrounding the center window
    The façade relief surrounding the center window
  • The pediment of the church located on the topmost portion of the façade
    The pediment of the church located on the topmost portion of the façade
  • Domed belfry of the church
    Domed belfry of the church
  • Nave in 2024
    Nave in 2024
  • Altar
    Altar
  • The canonically crowned image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila
    The canonically crowned image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila

List of shrine rectors

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  • Rudsend P. Paragas (2018–2025)
  • Marc Bryan Adona (2025–present)

Notable priests

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See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ "Vicariate of Jose de Trozo". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  2. ^ Esmaquel, Paterno R. II (June 11, 2023). "IN PHOTOS: Celebrating Corpus Christi, the great Catholic feast of self-giving". Rappler. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  3. ^ Olbés, p. 14.
  4. ^ a b Gopal, Lou (August 8, 2012). "Santa Cruz". Manila Nostalgia. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "About Us". Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Manila's Sta. Cruz Church now a minor basilica". CBCP News. March 26, 2025. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Hermoso, Christina (June 6, 2018). "Sta. Cruz parish now archdiocesan shrine of the Blessed Sacrament". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  8. ^ "A Threefold Celebration in Sta Cruz Church". SSS Congregatio. June 5, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  9. ^ Alarcon, Norma (1991). Philippine Architecture During the Pre-Spanish and Spanish Periods. Manila: Santo Tomas University Press. ISBN 971-506-040-4.

Bibliography

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  • Olbés, Rene (2000). The Philippines:A Century Hence. Makati, Philippines: Rene Olbés and Associates. pp. 14–15. ISBN 971-92288-0-6.
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