Dedication 2

This is just to clarify the meaning of the word, Dedication, used in reference to the parish church of Sta. Ana.

The parish of Sta. Ana was dedicated not just blessed. The ceremony is presided by the Diocesan Bishop who was at that time Archbishop Antonio Ll. Mabutas, D.D. According to the liturgy of dedication, the presiding prelate annointed the altar representing Christ with Holy Chrism and incensed it. The 12 pillars of the church representing the 12 apostles were also incensed and anointed. The formal expression of the Church event is, “The parish church of Sta. Ana was dedicated to Christ under the patronage of St. Anne.”

On 24 July 1999 on the anniversary of its dedication, the parish church of Sta. Ana was raised to the rank of a shrine dedicated to St. Anne under the prescription of the Code of Canon Law no. 1230. The presiding prelate was Archbishop Fernando R. Capalla, then archbishop of Davao. The Decree of the establishment or dedication of the parish church as a shrine was read during the solemn celebration of its dedication anniversary on 24 July 1999 at 5 o’clock in the afternoon.

On 26 July 1999 the parish celebrated its 50th parochial fiesta.