Leganes church declared a diocesan shrine

ILOILO CITY, April 4, 2008—The Parish Church of St. Vincent Ferrer in Leganes town (6 kilometres north of Iloilo City) was declared today a Diocesan Shrine. Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo signed the decree on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the foundation and the dedication and consecration of the newly renovated Parish Church of St. Vincent Ferrer.

The decree was read during the Dedication and Consecration mass stating that the Parish Church of St. Vincent Ferrer in Leganes, Iloilo, was proclaimed a Diocesan Shrine, "in accordance with Church law, with all the duties, rights and privileges given to a Diocesan Shrine by the Code of Canon Law, as well as other Church documents, particularly the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy."

"In the 150 years of its existence as a parish, the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer in Leganes, Iloilo has locally fulfilled the same functions as shrines, even without canonical recognition. This Church has formed part of the "topography" of the faith and of the popular piety of the people of God, not only in the Island of Panay, but also in the nearby Island of Negros as well as the adjoining islands in the Visayas, who flock to the Church the whole year round to fulfill their promises or "panaad" and to invoke the heavenly intercession of their beloved St. Vincent Ferrer. Furthermore, many testimonies of heavenly favors and spiritual graces received abound among these devotees of the Saint," the decree stated.

Leganes town will celebrate its patronal town fiesta on 5 April, 2008. Thousands of devotees and visitors are expected to flock the parish church to obtain the intercession of their beloved St. Vincent Ferrer who has never failed to pray for them. (Fr. Ryan Teves)


source: http://www.cbcpnews.com/?q=node/1727