Sta. Ana Parish Church Dedicated as Shrine

On the 24th day of July 2000 the parish church whose patroness was already St. Anne was officially declared and “dedicated” or “raised to” the rank of “a diocesan shrine”. The document of official elevation of the parish church into a shrine was written and issued by the then incumbent archbishop of Davao Fernando R. Capalla, and read after the gospel of the Holy Mass on that 24th day of July 2000, two days before the annual solemn celebration of the feast of Saint Anne on July 26.

The word, Dedication, simply referred to the “raising of” or “elevation of the rank” of the parish church as “a special place in the Diocese of Davao where the devotion to Saint Anne is to be held and promoted” according to the guidelines on shrines of the Code of Canon Law (cc 1230-1234). The Holy Mass celebrated on that day was the usual “pontifical Mass” or “Mass by the Archbishop”. It was not the “Holy Mass of the liturgical dedication of the parish church whose long ritual includes the annointing of the altar and of the 12 candles in 12 posts of the church edifice.”

The present anniversary practice of assigning 12 families holding lighted candles at the beginning of the Mass on July 24 as part of the symbolic dedication is not correct. There was no church dedication in the past. Therefore there cannot be a dedication anniversary to celebrate. It should be discontinued or replaced by a more appropriate symbol in accord with canonical regulation. Archbishop Capalla has written a clarification and informed Archbishop Romulo Valles on the matter.

It might help the parish priest and the parish pastoral workers to consult the Sisters, Secular Daughters and Sons of Saint Anne on the varied ways of promoting the devotion to Sta. Ana in a pastoral context. The statutes of the shrine have yet to be formulated due to this.