Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila said Monday that a church in Antipolo declared the National Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus should become a refuge of hope for pilgrims seeking comfort and renewal.
The declaration formally elevates the parish dedicated to the French Carmelite nun, whose spiritually continues inspiring Catholics worldwide.
Advincula said the recognition is both an honor and responsibility, calling the shrine a spiritual home welcoming families, pilgrims and those seeking intercession and guidance.
“This is not only an honor and a title, but also a responsibility and a commitment,” he said in his homily.
The cardinal said the shrine should embody God’s promise of joy and peace, becoming a place where weary people may find rest and spiritual consolation.
“This sanctuary, now elevated as a national shrine, is meant to be such a place: a place of joy where the weary, troubled or burdened by life’s trials can come to rest in Him who alone consoles,” Advincula said.
“A place where families come with gratitude and where the suffering comes with hope,” he added. “A place where pilgrims from every walk of life can experience the tender delight of God who rejoices in His people.”
Drawing from the prophet Isaiah, he said God desires communities where His presence brings light, comfort and renewed hope to those burdened by suffering.
Advincula also highlighted the spirituality of St. Therese, known as the “little way,” which emphasizes humble trust in God’s love rather than personal achievement.
He said the saint taught believers to approach God with “empty hands,” trusting divine mercy rather than relying solely on human effort or accomplishments.
According to him, such trust invites believers into a deeper awareness that God delights in His people despite human weakness and limitations.
He expressed hope the newly declared national shrine will welcome pilgrims from across the country seeking prayer, reconciliation and renewed faith.
“Through the intercession of Our Lady and of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, may all who go to this sacred place experience the Lord’s delight in us,” Advincula said.
“Let this place be where families are restored, friendships deepened, and the young and old alike are renewed in hope,” he added. “May the sound of weeping be met with the voice of consolation.”
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines approved on July 6, 2025, a petition from the Diocese of Antipolo to elevate the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Therese of the Child Jesus to a national shrine.
Among those present during the Mass were 10 bishops, including CBCP president Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa.
Bishop Ruperto Santos of Antipolo said the church’s new status is not only a recognition but an affirmation of a vibrant faith and devotion that has flourished in the hearts of the faithful who come seeking the saint’s intercession.
“It is therefore fitting that this shrine, dedicated to her, becomes a place where pilgrims from all over our nation may encounter the tenderness of God’s love and be renewed in faith,” Santos said.
“May this newly declared National Shrine of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus continue to be a home of prayer, a refuge of hope, and a wellspring of grace for pilgrims from every part of our country,” he said.
