With great joy and thanksgiving, the Christian community of Sta. Lucia Parish in Sta. Lucia, Asturias, celebrates two big milestones today — the Solemn Dedication of the Church and Altar and the Declaration of the Parish as an Archdiocesan Shrine. It is now called the Parish and Archdiocesan Shrine of Sta. Lucia.
Outgoing Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma presided over the Eucharistic Celebration, along with Prosperidad Bishop Ruben Labajo, Fr. Christopher Amores (former Parish Priest), Fr. Mark Barneso (new Parish Priest), and other visiting priests.
Emphasizing the significance of the elevation of the parish into an archdiocesan shrine on the occasion of the Jubilee Year 2025, the good Archbishop, in his homily, urged the faithful that as we strengthen our parish church, we must also nurture the living Church within each of us.
“Ang simbahan nga bato atong gilig-on. Unta kita nga buhi nga simbahan palig-unon usab. Unta sa atong kinabuhi makita kining panaghiusa, makita ang pagtuo, ang gugma, ug ang pagpadayag sa gugma pinaagi sa maayong buhat. Mao kini ang tinuod nga timaan sa buhi nga simbahan,” said Archbishop Palma.
Before the Holy Mass, the good Archbishop blessed the new parish pilgrim center.
In the Decree, Archbishop Palma writes that a Plenary Indulgence is granted to pilgrims who, after fulfilling the usual conditions of the remission of sins, pray for the intentions of the Holy Father, the Apostle’s Creed, one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be on the Solemnity of Sta. Lucia on December 13 (Titular and Principal Patron); and Solemnity of the Anniversary of the Dedication of the Church and Altar on August 10.
Established on August 15, 1946, the Parish and Archdiocesan Shrine of Sta. Lucia is the only parish in Cebu dedicated to Sta. Lucia. It is also one of the Jubilee Churches in Cebu.