A Glimpse of the Diocesan Shrine of MOPH

The journey of the Diocesan Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help traced its humble beginnings when the Maryknoll Missionaries first stepped in Maco on 1963. Planting the seed of faith among the community, the missionaries established the propagation of catechism and spirituality which became the core of their missionary activities. Before, the parish was once a San Isidro Labrador Chapel under the Prelature of Tagum. Different Marian activities were already practiced by the devotees like the Flores de Mayo, Barangay sang Birhen, October Rosary and many others initiated by the Legion of Mary, an already established Marian apostolate at that time. Eventually, the humble chapel became a parish in 1963 and the patron San Isidro Labrador was changed into Our Lady of Perpetual Help by virtue of votation among the parishioners.

The steady growth of the devotion of faithfuls to the Blessed Mother has been manifested through the active participation especially in the liturgical events which gives life to the parish. The foundation of Maryknoll High School, was one of the legacy of the Maryknoll Fathers to better evangelize through education and apostolate. For many years, the parish became solid in its foundation, grounded with deep faith and rooted with love through the grace of God under the patronage of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

The Maryknoll Missionaries left Maco on 1978 and for 10 months, the parish has no priest to administer thus, priests from the prelature visited and administered Holy Mass. On 1979, the Dominican Fathers from the Order of Preachers administered the parish until 1993. With profound devotion to Our Lady, they succeeded in developing and forming the devotion of the parishioners. When the Dominicans left, the parish was under the pastoral care of the Diocesan priests until the present. They intensified the spirituality already founded by the previous missionaries and concretized the essence of being a community of God (GKK).

The present Diocesan Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help was a fruition of the initiatives planned on 2013 by Rev. Fr. Levi M. Mantica, then the parish priest. But due to the inevitable circumstances, the movement seemed to be forgotten. Many years passed, Rev. Fr. Warren P. Paramio took the administration of the shrine, he came up with an initiative of bringing back the plan to the establish the former parish into a Diocesan Shrine where the strong devotion of pilgrims and devotees in and outside the parish and diocese will turn their prayers, petitions, and supplications before Her miraculous Icon. Attending the Novena Perpetua every Wednesday and lighting a candle before the Icon constitutes to the devotion of the people from all walks of life as testament of their intense love for the Blessed Mother.

The initial steps were worked on by gathering devotees’ testimony of the miracles and answered prayers which gave a strong evident in establishing a shrine. Moreover, ecclesiastical documents pertaining to the establishment of the shrine with the provisions of the Code of Canon Law has been presented as well as the resolutions from the PPC and Apostolates and the Vicariate.

After series of deliberations by Commission on Liturgy and the Diocesan Curia, the noble endeavor has now put into a reality. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish was canonically elevated into a Diocesan Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help by Most Rev. Medil S. Aseo, DD, Bishop of Tagum on January 1, 2022 on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. The Decree of the Canonical Establishment was read by Rev. Fr. McWillroe Bringas, Diocesan Chancellor which highlighted the ceremony. Around 30 priests from the Diocese of Tagum were present especially the former priests assigned. Fr. Cris Mostajo, CSsR, Rector of the Davao Redemptorist Community graced also the event as representative of the congregation who take care the venerable Icon.

Rooted from the experiences of the devotees and pilgrims, the Diocesan Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is a living reflection of heaven coming down to earth. Burdened by the problems, trials, difficulties, sorrows and pains in life, one can turn their prayers and petitions to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, who perpetually show her maternal love and unceasingly guide us in the course of our earthly sojourn. Let the devotion be it known to many and “Make Her Known” throughout the world. (Marion S. Espina | Maco, Davao de Oro, Diocese of Tagum)