Before you stands the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help also known as Baclaran Church. This prominent shrine is dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. It is located along Roxas Boulevard in Baclaran Parañaque Metro Manila.
Devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help is very popular among Filipino Catholics. They flood the church on Wednesdays to attend Mass. They pray the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. In Manila Wednesdays are popularly called “Baclaran Day”. This is due to congested roads near the shrine.
Let’s delve into the history. The Redemptorist Fathers brought a German copy of the icon to the Philippines in 1906. It was first enshrined in Malate Church. Later it moved to Baclaran in 1932. During World War II Japanese forces took over the convent. The community dispersed. The Icon was entrusted to a family in Malate. Their house burned down. Nobody knew what happened to the icon.
After liberation a La Salle brother visited the old Bilibid Prison. It was on Azcarraga in Manila. The Japanese had stored items looted from Filipino homes there. He chanced upon the icon. He reported his discovery to the Redemptorist Fathers. With great joy it was brought back to her home in Baclaran. A few years later the icon was enthroned to her current high altar.
Forty years later the Redemptorists introduced the Perpetual Novena to the people. It started in Iloilo in 1946. It was at the Redemptorist Church of St Clement. Then it reached Lipa City Batangas in 1948. Fr Gerard O’Donnel visited Iloilo. He was present at the Novena devotion. He wanted to introduce it in Lipa.
Fr O’Donnell became the Rector of Baclaran. He initiated the Novena on June 23 1948. Fr Leo English led the first session. Only 70 people attended. The church capacity was limited to 300. The number of participants grew significantly. There were eight packed Novena sessions by the end of 1949.
The devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help led to building a larger church. Devotee donations funded it. Cardinal Gilroy laid the foundation stone in 1953. In 1958 the Philippine hierarchy declared Baclaran Church. It became the National Shrine of the Mother of Perpetual Help. Archbishop Rufino Cardinal Santos consecrated it. Since its opening the Shrine has remained open day and night. The Vatican gave special permission. Pilgrims fulfill their Wednesday devotions. They honor Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
For many years the icon was placed on her high altar. She listened to the prayers of millions of Filipinos for generations. The icon was brought down from her altar twice. Once during World War II for safekeeping. Again in 1992 for restoration.
September 5 2019 was a unique day. The famed miraculous icon came down from her high altar after 27 years. The altar needed cleaning and restoration. This allowed a rare close encounter with the famed icon. It lasted for a few months.
In 1973 Cardinal Karol Józef Wojtyła visited the Baclaran Church. He celebrated Mass there. This was during a brief stopover in Manila. It was his first visit to the Philippines. In 1981 Wojtyła returned as Pope John Paul II. He visited the shrine as part of his apostolic visit.
Baclaran Church stands as a testament to unwavering faith. Its story is etched in the hearts of devotees. They seek solace and guidance from Our Mother of Perpetual Help. The shrine remains open. It welcomes all who seek her embrace.