The Vatican has officially elevated the San Bartolome Parish Church in Caloocan City to the status of a minor basilica, marking a significant milestone for one of the oldest Catholic institutions in Metro Manila. The Diocese of Kalookan announced on Thursday, October 29, that it had received a formal decree from the Holy See’s Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The decree, dated September 29, grants the church the honorary title, which is reserved for sites recognized for their religious, historical, or liturgical importance. “The faithful of the Diocese of Kalookan rejoice and give thanks to God for the granting of our petition to the Holy See,” the diocese stated. The process for this elevation began in 2022, when Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, Bishop of Kalookan, first announced the intention to seek the designation. The petition was subsequently submitted to the Vatican with the formal endorsement of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. Established by Augustinian missionaries in 1614, San Bartolome Parish is the oldest church within the Diocese of Kalookan, with a history spanning more than four centuries. In 2022, the National Museum of the Philippines recognized the site’s historical and cultural value by declaring it an Important Cultural Property. The designation of minor basilica serves as an acknowledgment of the parish’s 412-year legacy and its enduring role in the religious and cultural heritage of Caloocan City.
Article source: The Daily Tribune | Image credit: The Daily Tribune