Santo Niño Church: Bastion Of Christianity In Cebu

Basilica Minore del Santo Niño or the Santo Niño Church - image source: en.wikipeia.org

The Basilica Minore del Santo Niño or the Santo Niño Church was established in 1565 where an image of the Santo Niño was found by a Spanish soldier. The image was preserved inside a burnt wooden box after a village of hostile natives was razed by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.  The church is called the “Mother and Head of all Churches in the Philippines" by the Holy See.

Santo Niño de Cebu Image - image source: flicker.com

Located right beside Magellan’s Cross and a short walk away from Fort San Pedro, it is the oldest Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines. The original structure was made of nipa, hard wood and earth. It was destroyed by fire in 1568 and was rebuilt in 1625. The second church also burned down in March 1628. The present structure was rebuilt in 1737 under Rev. Juan de Albarran. 

In 2013, the bell tower and facade of the Santo Niño Church was damaged by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that shook Tagbilaran City in Bohol. It was later restored and re-opened to the public.

Bell Tower of the Santo Niño Church collapse due to the 2013 earthquake - image source: rappler.com

The courtyard of the church has a continuous bonfire of candles fuelled by numerous worshippers who stream into the church every day.  The image of the infant Jesus is the object of veneration of these pilgrims. The image is currently displayed inside a chapel along the left side of the altar. It is the same image Ferdinand Magellan gave as a gift to the wife of Rajah Humabon on April 14, 1521.

The Pilgrim’s Center, located in the Basilica complex is the venue for Santo Niño Novena and Mass every Friday. It was built to accommodate the increasing number of devotees who attend mass at the basilica. The Pilgrim’s Center was completed in September 1990.

Basilica Pilgrim's Center - image source: en.wikipeia.org

The Basilica complex also houses the Basilica Del Santo Niño Museum where exhibits showing the rich Christian history of Cebu are stored. Among the antique relics on display are priestly vestments, cloaks and furniture. The Basilica del Santo Niño Library is also located inside the complex and was opened to non-clerical researchers in 2000. 

The schedule of masses at the Santo Niño Church is as follows:

Weekday Masses

6:00 am – Cebuano
7:00 am – Cebuano
8:00 am – English
5:30 pm – English

Friday Masses
5:00 am – Cebuano           
6:00 am – Cebuano  
7:00 am – English     
8:00 am – English    
9:00 am – English
10:00 am – Cebuano 
11:00 am – Cebuano
12:00 noon – English

3:00 pm – Cebuano         
4:30 pm – Cebuano     
5:30 pm – English     
6:30 pm – English     
7:30 pm – English

Sundays and Holiday of Obligations
5:30 am – Cebuano
7:00 am – Cebuano
8:30 am – English
10:00 am – Cebuano
11:30 am – English
2:30 pm – Cebuano
4:00 pm – Cebuano
5:30 pm – English
7:00 pm – English