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Pilgrims Ministry

Every day, countless people make their way to Quiapo Church. They come carrying prayers, burdens, gratitude, hopes, and faith. But more than simply arriving at a sacred destination, a pilgrimage is a journey toward an encounter with God.

The Pilgrims Ministry is a dedicated lay ministry established to provide pastoral care and accompaniment to pilgrims who journey to the Shrine. Recognizing pilgrims as “itinerant people” who come from different places, backgrounds, and circumstances, the ministry seeks to help ensure that their pilgrimage becomes more than a physical journey, but a genuine encounter with the Lord.

The necessity for a Lay Shrine or Pilgrim Ministry is emphasized in The Role of Shrines in View of the New Evangelization by Bro. Kendrick Ivan B. Panganiban, M.A.P.M., D.Th.CH/S.Th.D. Drawing from Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter Sanctuarium in Ecclesia, the work highlights the important pastoral mission of shrines and the need to care for those who come to them in faith and devotion.

The 1983 Code of Canon Law states that shrines are “a sacred place to which numerous members of the faithful make pilgrimage for a special reason of piety with the approval of the local ordinary” (Can. 1230). In the context of Quiapo, this piety is centered on the ardent love of the faithful to the enshrined image of Jesus on His way to Calvary, the Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno.

As a response to this call, the Pilgrims Ministry was established under the Office of the Basilica and Shrine Rector, Fr. Jade Licuanan, and is spearheaded by Bro. John Paul Mendoza, the Formation Head of Quiapo Church. Its mission is centered on welcoming, accompanying, and serving pilgrims as they journey to the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno.

More than simply assisting visitors, the ministry helps preserve the true identity and purpose of the Shrine. As described in Sanctuarium in Ecclesia, a shrine must remain a holy place of encounter with the Holy Eucharist; a center for the proclamation of the Word of God; a great expression of devotion and popular piety; a place that significantly contributes to catechesis and the witness of charity; a call to conversion; and a significant center of culture and heritage.

Thus, the Pilgrims Ministry serves as a bridge between the Shrine and the people who come seeking Jesus Nazareno. Through pastoral care, formation, welcome, accompaniment, digital evangelization, and service, its members help pilgrims experience the Shrine not merely as a destination to visit, but as a sacred place where they can encounter Christ, deepen their faith, and continue their journey as disciples.

At its heart, the Pilgrims Ministry exists because every pilgrim has a journey. As members of the Pilgrim Church, the faithful from all walks of life form a salya—a collective journey toward a true encounter and deeper relationship with Christ, who carried the Cross for us. We invite you to join us in this sacred journey, to visit the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno, and to experience the transformative power of faith in community. Together, let us walk toward the One whom we seek: Jesus Nazareno.

Viva Poong Jesus Nazareno!

 

 

Sources:

  1. Catholic Church. Code of Canon Law, can. 1230.
  2. Pope Francis. Sanctuarium in Ecclesia [Apostolic Letter issued Motu Proprio], 11 February 2017.
  3. Panganiban, Kendrick Ivan B. The Role of Shrines in View of the New Evangelization. Claretian Publications, 2021.
  4. Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno. Pastoral and ministry materials.

    Tyrone Dane M. Dungca | Pilgrims Ministry/HDN Basilica/Quiapo Article Writer