The Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu (BMSN) marks its 59th anniversary on February 28, 2024 since its rededication in 1965.

In this momentous event, the Archbishop of Cebu Most Rev. Jose Palma D.D., presided over the holy mass expressing his gratitude to the devotees of Señor Santo Niño in their unwavering devotion as well as the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) for their mission of evangelization.

“I’d like to take this occasion to thank all of you, who are devotees of Señor Santo Niño, and thank in a very special way as Archbishop, our Order of Saint Augustine, our Augustinian Community, the first missionaries to have come here and to evangelize for their work of evangelization and for the wonderful way they have promoted the devotion to Señor Santo Niño,” Archbishop Palma said.

Concelebrating the Mass were the Auxiliary Bishop-Emeritus of Cebu Most Rev. Antonio Rañola, D.D., Prior Provincial of the Augustinian Province of Santo Niño de Cebu- Philippines Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Batayola, OSA, BMSN Rector Rev. Fr. Nelson Zerda, OSA, and the Augustinian friars from the different Augustinian communities in Cebu.

Since its rededication in 1965, Archbishop Palma also highlighted the significance of Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu as the place of sanctity and devotion.

“We all know that this Basilica, when it was consecrated 59 years ago, [became] a fitting place as we said in the opening song, a dwelling place for God, and a dwelling place for Señor Santo Niño,” the Archbishop of Cebu shared.

He also emphasized in his homily that faithfuls of the Holy Child should set Him as a reminder to extend a hand to those in need.

“The Child is the reminder that we have to care for children, for the weak, the poor, for those who need our assistance– and I think that’s part of a beautiful devotion to the Niño,” Archbishop Palma stated.

On February 28, 1965, His Eminence Julio Cardinal Rosales, D.D., then Archbishop of Cebu, solemnly consecrated and blessed the Church and Altar of the erstwhile San Agustin Church.

In April of the same year, Pope Saint Paul VI through a Papal Legate, Ildebrando Cardinal Antoniutti, elevated the Church as a ‘Basilica Minore.’

Since 1565 until present, the Basilica has been under the care of the Augustinian friars. /Kristin de Dios and Denise Mae Codis, BMSN Media Centre volunteers

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