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To say that the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag is welcoming should not be a surprise to anyone who hears it.   For after all, the Shrine’s origin and nature can be traced back to the person who started it – to our Blessed Mother herself.  Our Lady appeared one day by a tree and called out to a farmer who was travelling, telling him to have a church built at the place where he stood.

Years passed and the church that was built became a place where pilgrims come to pray and seek the intercession of Mary who had called them.  The church, being able to withstand the onslaught of war, and the image of Our Lady which saved the town from where it stood from draught and locusts, curing various illnesses and raising a child from the dead – moved the townspeople to realize that they had a welcoming mother waiting to help them.

Decades have passed and this remains the same.  The townspeople called the town “Manaoag”, which in the local language is short for “the one who calls”. The Shrine of our Lady of Manaoag ran by the Dominican Order has welcomed thousands of pilgrims all throughout the country now for four centuries.   Most say their prayers have been answered…but ALL candidly say that they are ‘Welcomed’ by the Mother of God as they pray and grow with her.  And this ‘welcome’ always brings them back to the Shrine.

Last July 21, 2012 the Our Lady of Manaoag Convent added the “Welcome” of the Shrine to another level.  After around 7 months of construction, an Annex Building that stood 3 floors high, parallel and connected to the Dominican Fathers and Brothers Convent was built.  It was comprised of sixteen rooms, which included a Prayer Room, a Gym and a bar at the roof deck.  The blessing of the said building was well attended by many priests, sisters and Dominican Laity from the Philippine Dominican Province.  The Dominican Novices led by Fr. Roland Mactal, OP the Shrine Chaplain led the congregation through the blessing of the building.

Fr. Gerard Timoner, OP, the newly installed Prior Provincial of the Philippines made the opening remarks by inviting and introducing all those in attendance to a building made primarily for guests in the spirit of Chastity and Hope.  With prayers, songs and incense the structure was both offered to God and blessed by God through the sprinkling of Holy Water.   Fr. Stephen Redillas, OP, the Prior of the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag gave words of gratitude to all who inspired and participated in making the Guest House possible.  Fr. Stephen added that the Annex Building was made as a welcoming home and haven for the growing number of community members and guests that have travelled as pilgrims and servants to Our Lady of Manaoag.   It was also built for the elderly members of the community in mind.  The blessing of the Guest House was done at the eve of the 1st Year Anniversary of the Shrine as an affiliate to St. Mary Maggiore Cathedral in Rome.