Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Minglanilla, Cebu

Malipayong pagsaulog sa ika-169 nga kasumaran sa pagtukod sa The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu's Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary sa Lungsod sa Minglanilla, Cebu! Today, this marvelous but understated parish in Metro Cebu celebrates almost two centuries of being established under the patronage of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary who will triumph in the end. Atong sayran ang kasaysayan sa maong parokya: The parish of Minglanilla, officially established under the patronage of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Purísimo Corazón de María), was formally erected on October 30, 1857, by the Order of Saint Augustine (Augustinians). Before its establishment, the coastal settlement was known as Buat (referring to salted dried fish) and operated as a visita of the neighboring town of San Nicolas and later Talisay. In 1858, the first parish priest, Fr. Fernando Lopez (often cited alongside Fr. Fernando Sanchez), officially renamed the settlement Minglanilla after his hometown in Cuenca, Spain. The present church of the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was constructed between 1880 and 1886. Notable Augustinian friars, including Fr. Nicolas Lopez, Fr. Miguel de Burgo, and Fr. Jose Alonso, oversaw its completion along with the municipal infrastructure, cemetery, and connecting roads. Built largely out of cut coral stone, the edifice is widely celebrated as one of the few Spanish-era Gothic-revival churches in Cebu, distinguished by pointed arch entrances, rose and quatrefoil windows, decorative pinnacles, and twin flanking bell towers. During the Philippine-American War and World War II, the town endured substantial conflict, but the church remained the anchor of community life. On August 23, 2007, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal officially elevated the parish church to the dignity of an Archdiocesan Shrine. Today, it serves as the spiritual heart of the municipality and the center of the famous Sugat-Kabanhawan Festival, an elaborate Easter Sunday dawn tradition re-enacting the meeting (sugat) of the Risen Christ and the Virgin Mary. Mga kaigsoonan, maglakbay-nilay tayo sa Pang-Arkidiyosesis na Dambanang ito na madadaanan lamang sa Cebu South Road kung papunta kang Naga City, Boljoon, Simala, Oslob, at iba pa. Nasa kanang bahagi lamang ito kung magmumula ka sa Cebu City kaya naman napaka-convenient na dumaan dito para magdasal, magnilay at magsimba. Atong hinumduman ang gisaad kanato ni Mama Mary nga sa katapusan, ang Iyang Putling kasingkasing ang modaug. Aron makaabot kitang tanan sa maong adlaw sa pagdaug, magpabilin kita sa pagkamatinumanon labi na sa mga balaod sa atong Ginoo ug kanunay mag-ampo kita alang sa kaluwasan sa kalibutan ug mahuman na ang daghang mga pagsalikway og katawhan sa mga sugo sa atong Diyos. The only way to prevent war is to heed the Blessed Virgin Mary's warnings that we must offend Her Son no more!