MANILA -- The Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, popularly known as the Manila Cathedral will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of its post-war construction on Friday.
With this, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle is set to preside the Eucharistic celebration at noontime at the basilica in Intramuros, Manila.
Aside from celebrating the 60th anniversary, the holy mass will also be held in solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception was established and administered by the religious affairs of Manila until such time it became a parish and Manila was created into a diocese.
It was a simple structure of nipa and bamboo materials, which were readily available during that time.
In 1583, a fire razed the city, which prompted the first reconstruction of the church.
Over the last four centuries, the Manila Cathedral was repeatedly destroyed by wars and earthquakes seven times.
It was in the year 1954 until 1958 when the present cathedral was constructed under then Manila Archbishop Rufino Jiao Cardinal Santos with the supervision of Filipino architect Fernando Ocampo.
Meanwhile, the dogma of the Immaculate Conception teaches the faithful that the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instant of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin.
In the Philippines, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is considered as a holy day of obligation, wherein the Filipino faithful are obliged to hear mass and abstain from excessive work. (PNA)
