File:NationalShrineandParishofOurLadyofLourdesjf1719 02.JPG

English: 1942 National Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes [1] is located at Kanlaon cor. N. S. Amoranto Ave. (formerly Retiro St.) Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City[2]1114 Philippines - established on March 21, 1942 Feast day: February 11. It belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao[3] Parish Priest - Rev. Fr. Chito B. Bartolo, OFM Cap. (administered by the Franciscan Capuchins) Vicariate of San Pedro Bautista - The imposing church structure traces its beginning in 1941 when the first construction of the church and convent was planned in a lot acquired through the donations made by the families represented by Don Salvador Araneta and Doña Natividad Zaragoza Tuason. On August 14, 1941, Fr. Florencio de Lezaun, superior of the Capuchins in the Philippines addressed a letter to the then Archbishop of Manila, Msgr. Michael O'Doherty, asking his consent to build a religious house with a church attached to it, in a 10,500 square meter lot acquired by the Order in Retiro Street. On March 28, 1942 Archbishop O'Doherty of Manila issued a decree on the establishment of the pleno iure, a church and the religious house of the Capuchins. But because of World War II, the construction of the church and religious house was delayed for several years. The CBCP granted the request the following year at their 74th General Assembly at the Betania Retreat House in Tagaytay City. With a letter dated January 30, 1997 the Lourdes church was declared as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. [4]Coordinates: 14°37'48"N 120°59'49"E [5]Parish Priest : Fr. Ramon C. Atanacio, OFMCap[6][7][8][9][10][11]Our Lady of Lourdes[12] is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary invoked by Roman Catholics in honor of the Marian apparitions which are said to have taken place before various individuals on separate occasions around Lourdes, France. [13]Shrines to the Virgin Mary[14]