Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto Shrine, San Jose del Monte
The Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto Shrine is a Roman Catholic pilgrimage site in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, Philippines. History. The Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto Shrine was first opened to the public on February 11, 1965 which coincides the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. The site was established by Horacio A. Guanzon and Anita Guidote-Guanzon whose familial roots traces to wealthy families in Bulacan, Pampanga and Nueva Ecija. Guidote-Guanzon being cured in cancer after her family's pilgrimage to Lourdes, France in 1961 decided to  establish the grotto shrine as an act of thanksgiving believing that the improvement of her condition was a miracle. The doctors who diagnosed her cancer projected that she only has six months to live but she went on to live for three more decades. The Guanzons started a project to build a replica of the Rosary Basilica in Lourdes, France. After the death of Anita Guidote-Guanzon in 1990, the management of the grotto shrine was entrusted their children who oversaw the completion of the replica. The eldest daughter of the Guanzons, Marietta Guanzon-Holmgren asked the Diocese of Malolos  in 2004 to send personnel to supervise religious rites at the grotto shrine. However allegations arose that Guanzon-Holmgren was meddling too much on how clergymen sent by the Diocese performed their duties. In 2005, the shrine was said to be not compliant on Roman Catholic guidelines on liturgy and worship leading to Bishop Jose Oliveros of Malolos to stop recognizing the shrine as a Roman Catholic institution. Status. The Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto Shrine is not officially recognized as a Catholic pilgrimage site by the Diocese of Malolos. In 2019, the diocese reiterated their non-recognition of the  shrine and has said in a statement that priests holding rites at the site are suspended by the Catholic church. Traditions. The Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto Shrine is often visited by Roman Catholics during the Lenten season. Every Maundy Thursday since 1966, devotees conduct a penitential walk, traversing by foot from northern Metro Manila (either Malinta, Valenzuela or Balintawak, Quezon City) to the grotto shrine. Devotees largely comes from the northern Metro Manila cities of Caloocan, Malabon, and Navotas, Novaliches, Quezon City and Valenzuela and the Bulacan city of Meycauayan. Non-Catholic Christians, including Philippine Independent Church members also  use the grotto shrine as a pilgrimage site.