Bishop urges shrines to be ‘hospitals of hope’

February 11, 2026 – 3:50 PM

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Catholic shrines should become welcoming sanctuaries for people burdened by stress, grief and mental health struggles, rather than distant religious monuments, a bishop said.

Bishop Socrates Mesiona, chair of the CBCP Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI), said shrines must serve as “beacons of hope, oases of healing” for people facing anxiety, depression, and daily hardships.

He urged shrine caretakers to go beyond preserving structures and rituals, emphasizing that hospitality, warmth, and personal connection are essential for guiding the faithful toward spiritual comfort.

The bishop highlighted the importance of popular piety, noting that Filipino devotional practices—processions, novenas, and fiestas—offer both spiritual nourishment and emotional resilience amid life’s pressures.

“It’s true popular piety is the treasure of the ‘people of God,’” he said, adding that such expressions of faith strengthen community bonds and help individuals cope with mental and emotional challenges.

Mesiona made the remarks in his homily during Mass at the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Michael the Archangel in San Miguel, Bulacan with delegates to the 29th national assembly of the Association of Catholic Shrines and Pilgrimages of the Philippines (ACSP) on Feb. 5.

Hosted by the Diocese of Malolos, the Feb. 4 to 6 assembly gathered shrine rectors and workers from different dioceses across the country.

Mesiona encouraged shrine leaders to ensure that devotional gestures lead to deeper encounters with Christ, transforming simple acts of reverence into meaningful experiences of conversion and hope.

He particularly emphasized support for ordinary citizens, migrants, and workers, describing shrines as “VIP lounges” where dignity, joy, and healing can be restored for the vulnerable.

In a country grappling with rising mental health concerns, the bishop said shrines should function as “hospitals of hope,” offering not just prayer but compassion, solidarity, and spiritual renewal.

“Make our shrines destinations of hope,” he said, calling on church leaders to welcome every weary soul with patience, faith, and fraternity.

Founded in 1991, the ACSP is the pastoral desk on shrines and pilgrimages under ECMI, with around 300 members nationwide.

During the assembly, the ACSP also reelected Fr. Reynante Tolentino, rector of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Cardona, Rizal, as its president.