Centuries-old church in Ilocos Norte declared a ‘diocesan shrine’

Featuring a baroque facade and bearing the Spanish coat of arms, the San Nicolas de Tolentino parish has played a significant role in the life and history of all San Nicoleños. (File photo by KisekiLacroix – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)

LAOAG CITY – The Diocese of Laoag is elevating the centuries-old San Nicolas de Tolentino Church in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte as a “diocesan shrine” in time for the feast of the town’s patron saint on September 10.

Featuring a baroque facade and bearing the Spanish coat of arms, the San Nicolas de Tolentino parish has played a significant role in the life and history of all San Nicoleños.

It is being eyed as another pilgrimage site next to the La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc Church, which is now a minor basilica in Badoc, Ilocos Norte.

Mayor Alfredo Valdez said Friday the town of San Nicolas feels proud and blessed to have such a rich cultural heritage that has been well-preserved all these years.

Since 2008, the church and the state have been working together to restore the church to what it is now.

In his earlier petition to Bishop Renato Mayugba, Valdez said, “It is our fervent belief and understanding that the church has been and will always be the abode of God, a sacred place for the faithful, to make (a) pilgrimage for piety and devotional purposes, and emulate the life, teachings, and virtues of Saint Nicholas de Tolentino, the patron saint of the souls in purgatory.”

Bishop Mayugba approved the petition to declare the parish as a diocesan shrine on July 21.

However, the official declaration of the second diocesan shrine in Laoag is set on September 10, with the Laoag bishop presiding at the concelebrated mass.

The Vatican likewise announced in an Aug. 18, 2020 decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary that Catholics who will attend the Mass inside the church or via online for the solemn declaration of San Nicolas Church as a diocesan shrine will receive a plenary indulgence.

A plenary indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment a person is due for sins that have been forgiven.