RIZAL is set to have its first Minor Basilica in the 16th-century old St. John the Baptist Parish Church in Taytay, becoming the 23rd religious establishment given such an honor in the country.
In a statement, Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos announced the designation of Pope Francis of the St. John the Baptist Parish Church as a Minor Basilica.
“We received the good news of the approval of our dear Holy Father, Pope Francis, in elevating the first stone church outside the Archdiocese of Manila, the Parish Church of Saint John the Baptist in Taytay of the Diocese of Antipolo, to the ecclesiastical rank of Minor Basilica, the first in the province of Rizal,” said Santos.
“Truly, this elevation to Minor Basilica of the Parish Church of Saint John the Baptist is grace upon grace for us in the Diocese of Antipolo, comprising the whole province of Rizal,” he added.
Santos noted that the bestowing of such a title comes with a huge responsibility to the faithful of the Diocese of Antipolo.
“We acknowledge our responsibility that this Minor Basilica will always be a channel of God’s overflowing graces, a working instrument of charity to our people, and a welcoming home as we go on our Synodality,” said the prelate.
The title of Minor Basilica is given to churches around the world in acknowledgment of their historical or cultural significance, artistic beauty, and importance in the life of the Church.
The designation of being a Minor Basilica also signifies a closer relationship with the Pope.
According to CBCP News, the church was originally constructed by Franciscan missionaries near Laguna de Bay back in 1579 and was initially made from light materials.
