Today, the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City solemnly enshrined 26 relics from Rome.

The relics include those of six saints devoted to St. Joseph, the 12 Apostles, a rock from the site of the Last Supper, a relic from the House of the Annunciation, a relic from the cave of the Nativity, a relic from the veil of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a relic from the crib of the Child Jesus, and a splinter from the wood of the Holy Cross.

The Holy Mass was presided over by Fr. Ian Fel Balankig (Cebu Archdiocesan Coordinator for Shrines). He was joined by Msgr. Roger Fuentes (Vicar General and Team Moderator of the National Shrine of St. Joseph), the Shrine’s Team of Pastors, and other visiting priests.

In his homily, Fr. Ian Fel reflected that as we joyfully celebrate the reception and enshrinement of the relics, it also carries a mission—a mission to follow Christ by testifying to what we have seen, heard, and experienced from the Lord.

“Let our faith now become life; believing become living; and may the presence of these holy witnesses in our midst inspire us to live lives of holiness, fidelity, and charity,” said Fr. Ian.

Before the final blessing, a message from Cebu Archbishop Alberto “Abet” Uy was read by Fr. Junel Fuentes (Secretary to the Archbishop).

“Through these sacred relics, every pilgrim who visits our National Shrine is reminded of the universal call to holiness. The lives of the saints whose relics we enshrine inspire us to remember that we are not only invited to live holy lives, but are also capable of becoming holy ourselves,” said Archbishop Abet.

This was followed by a message from Fr. Reynante Tolentino, President of the Association of the Catholic Shrines and Pilgrimages of the Philippines (ACSP), which was read by Fr. Albert Benedict Soliman, OSA (ACSP Treasurer for the Visayas).

After the Holy Mass, the relics were solemnly enthroned in the original octagonal chapel located on the right side of the retablo.