Peñafrancia Minor Basilica of Naga City, Camarines Sur

HISTORY

The Peñafrancia Minor Basilica is located on the outskirts of Naga City.  The Image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is enshrined in her sanctuary at the Basilica Minore, Balatas Road Naga City.  Rodel Cajot was appointed rector in 2011.  The concept for the building came from the late Archbishop Pedro Paulo Santos y Songco in 1960.  Construction began on April 18, 1976, but was delayed for a number of years due to financing problems and was not completed until September 1981. On May 22, 1982, it was dedicated as The Church of Nuestra Señora de Peña de Francia and it wasn't until May 22, 1985 that the church was given the title of "Basilica Minore" from Rome after a request from the third Archbishop of Caceres, Leonardo Z. Legazpi, OP, DD.  The Peñafrancia Basilica Minore houses an image of the Virgin Mary that was sculpted in 1710.  It was commissioned by Miguel de Cobarrubias, who moved to the Philippines from Spain with his family and believed that the Virgin Mary had helped him numerous times in his life.  The image was housed in a small chapel until the Basilica Minore was constructed.