(Lian, Batangas) - The Parish Church of St. John the Baptist in this town in Western Batangas was solemly declared an Archdiocesan Shrine during a Solemn Mass, presided over by the Most. Rev. Ramon C. Arguelles, D.D., Metropolitan Archbishop of Lipa, during the feast of the martyrdom of the Lord’s forerunner, August 29, 2010.
In attendance to witness this historic event were local political and religious leaders. Including Most Rev. Salvador Quizon, Auxiliary Bishop-emeritus of Lipa and Lucena Bishop-emeritus, Most Rev. Ruben Profugo. Thousand devotees of St. John the Baptist, one of the most famous pilgrim images in this part of the Archdiocese, were also there.
Rev. Fr. Oscar Andal, the Archdiocesan Chancellor read the Decree Declaring the Parish Church a Shrine, making it the seventh in this Archdiocese. Others are The Parish Church of St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Sta. Teresita, Batangas; Parish Church of St. Joseph at San Jose, Batangas, Parish Church of St. Padre Pio at San Pedro, Sto. Tomas, Batangas; Parish Church of St. Vincent Ferrer at Banaybanay, Lipa City; Parish Church of the Most Holy Trinity at Pallocan West, Batangas City; and, the Shrine of Our Lady of CAysasay at Labac, Taal, Batangas.
Rev. Fr. Eriberto Cabrera, present parish priest, and now rector of the newly-declared shrine, thanked the Archbishop for affirming the faithful’s devotion to the highly-esteemed patron that led to the declaration of this sacred place of worship and veneration to a shrine.
