The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang ( fil, Pambansang Dambana at Parokya ng Mahal na Birhen ng Guibang; es, Sanctuario Nacional y Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Visitacion de Guibang), commonly known as Our Lady of Guibang Shrine, is a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

parish church and pilgrimage site situated at Brgy. Guibang,

Gamu, Isabela Gamu, officially the Municipality of Gamu ( ilo, Ili ti Gamu; tl, Bayan ng Gamu), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Isabela, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 30,655 people. While not a commercially ...

, 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 The Pan-Philippine Highway, also known as the Maharlika Highway ( tl, Daang Maharlika; ceb, Dalang Halangdon), is a network of roads, expressways, bridges, and ferry services that connect the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao in t ...

. 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 Ilagan, officially the City of Ilagan ( ibg, Siudad nat Ilagan; ilo, Siudad ti Ilagan; fil, Lungsod ng Ilagan), is a 1st class component city and capital of the province of Isabela, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a popula ...

. The

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines; ceb, Hugpong sa mga Obispo nga Katoliko sa Pilipinas; bcl, Komperensya kan mga Obispo Katoliko kan Pilipinas; hil, Komperensya sang mga Obispo Katoliko sang Pilipinas; ilo, Kumperensya ti ...

at its 52nd Annual Bishop's Meeting held in

Tagaytay Tagaytay, officially the City of Tagaytay ( fil, Lungsod ng Tagaytay), is a 2nd class component city in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 85,330 people. It is one of the country's most pop ...

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. It is the only national shrine in the northern Ecclesiastical Province of Tuguegarao, comprising the Tuguegarao archdiocese and the dioceses of Ilagan and

Bayombong Bayombong, officially the Municipality of Bayombong ( gad, Ili na Bayombong; ilo, Ili ti Bayombong; tl, Bayan ng Bayombong), is a 1st class municipality and capital of the province of Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, ...

. 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 The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ilagan (Lat: ''Dioecesis Ilaganensis'') is a diocese of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. It was erected on 31 January 1970 from territory of the then Roman Catholic Diocese of Tuguegarao a ...

in the blessing and dedication of the newly rebuilt and larger pilgrim church.

References

External links

* {{Roman Catholic Diocese of Ilagan Shrines to the Virgin Mary Roman Catholic national shrines in the Philippines Roman Catholic churches in Isabela (province) Churches in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ilagan