November 14, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The Sta. Cruz parish church in Manila will be declared as a minor basilica on Nov. 21, with Cardinal Jose Advincula as mass presider and Balanga, Bataan Bishop Rufino Sescon as homilist.
In a social media post, the parish announced that the solemn liturgical rite of the declaration of Sta. Cruz parish church as the Basilica Minor de Nuestra Señora del Pilar would take place at 2 p.m.
The 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. masses for the day are canceled to give way for a procession.
In March, the late Pope Francis approved the request for the parish to be elevated to a minor basilica, under the patronage of Nuestra Señora del Pilar. A minor basilica symbolizes the parish’s close relationship with the Vatican and the pope.
The Jesuits built the parish church on June 20, 1619, which was originally made of stone and wood. They enshrined an image of Our Lady of the Pillar that came from Spain in 1643, and ministered to predominantly Chinese residents in the area.
The original structure of the church was twice damaged by earthquakes, and then destroyed in the Battle of Manila during World War II. The present building was completed in 1957.
In 1984, then Manila archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin restored the official name of the church to Santa Cruz Parish. He kept Our Lady of the Pillar as its titular patroness and named as secondary patron St. Peter Julian Eymard, founder of the Sacramentinos.