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The shrine’s ceiling features a striking mural of the venerable Saint Anne de Beaupré of Quebec Apo Ana – Commission on Social Communications
35 Years of Grace
Dambana ni Apo Ana marks 35th Anniversary
By Ralph Emmanuel Macale
Published: October 28, 2026
HAGONOY, BULACAN — The National Shrine and Parish of St. Anne in Hagonoy, Bulacan will celebrate its 35th Shrine Anniversary on October 29, bringing together the faithful in prayer, the Holy Eucharist, and a solemn procession in honor of its patroness, St. Anne.
The original image of Saint Anne, brought out for a motorcade during her liturgical feast in July 2021, marking the 440th founding anniversary of the parish amid pandemic restrictions.
This celebration will have the Butil ni Sta. Ana, novena, and the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass, followed by a solemn procession as devotees gather to express their faith, gratitude, and devotion to St. Anne.
For 35 years, the shrine has served as a place of worship, healing, hope, and spiritual renewal for the people of Hagonoy. More than a physical structure, the shrine reminds the faithful that God's presence is encountered within the hearts of those who seek Him with faith and love.
Significance of the shrine is reflected in the Gospel of John, particularly in the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. While the woman seeks water for her thirst to end, Christ awakens her a deeper desire for the everlasting life that only God can give. Like the Samaritan woman, pilgrims who come to the shrine are invited not only to seek God's grace but also to encounter Christ and bring that experience to others.
Parishioners and pilgrims praying inside the National Shrine and Parish of Saint Anne.
Photo courtesy of Apo Ana – Commission on Social Communications
Shrine of St. Anne likewise serves as a spiritual home for devotees who come with different burdens, sorrows, and reasons for thanksgiving. Through prayer and the Eucharist, the faithful find a place where they can encounter Christ and receive strength and hope.
Devotion to St. Anne and St. Joachim, together with the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, continues to inspire Hagonoeñes in their journey of faith. The shrine also serves as a sanctuary for the sick and those seeking comfort, while encouraging the faithful to serve others through prayer and apostolate.
As the Samaritan woman returned to her town to share what she had experienced with Jesus, the anniversary likewise calls the faithful to bring the grace they receive from the shrine into their communities and daily lives.
35th anniversary celebration therefore serves not only as a commemoration of the shrine's history but also as a renewed invitation for the faithful to encounter Christ, live out their faith, and become witnesses of God's grace to others.