Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Carmen La Limpia is a Roman Catholic church in Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines. A Marian church, it is officially named as Santuario Arquidiocesano de Nuestra Señora del Carmen, La Limpia.
Table of Contents
History
Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Carmen La Limpia started as a chapel dedicated to Immaculate Conception built by the Augustinian Recollect missionaries in 1621. A church was constructed in 1747, however it was demolished two centuries later.
The building of a new place of worship began in 1964 and it was consecrated on March 18, 1966. It was established as a parish on January 1, 1971, becoming the Parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel-Recoletos.
The church occupies a structure within the complex of the University of San Jose-Recoletos. Over time it was closely identified with the aforementioned educational institution that people more often referred to it as San Jose Church, and its location being structurally a part of the university complex didn’t help in dispelling the mistaken label.
An image of the patron was installed in the facade on July 30, 2016, partly to encourage public’s awareness of its Marian patronage.
It houses the centuries-old Marian image of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, previously called La Limpia Concepcion until 1854, that was carved in 1718.
On January 8, 2022, the image was granted episcopal coronation. Moreover, the status of the parish was elevated to an archdiocesan shrine in a solemn declaration held on April 29, 2022.
Architecture
The church’s portico is a colonnade with campaniform capitals that supports an arcade with decorative grooves running along its outline. In front is a signage that bears the name of the church and the imposing statue of the patroness. In the upper register is a series of five arched stained glass windows, each of which punctuated by an arched midsection ridge and framed by arching concrete decorative bands. Four sets of ornamental festoons, paired arch windows, and a cross are found in the uppermost level. The quadrangular belfry with pierced wall is erected in the gospel flank.
Celebration
The feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is held every July 16th.
Services
The parish office is located in the lower level of the church. It is open from 8:00 to 11:30 in the morning and from 1:30 to 5:00 in the afternoon.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Carmen La Limpia in Cebu City from June 9, 2025 to June 15, 2025. Please reach out to the church for an updated schedule. Additionally, you may also want to view mass schedules of churches in Cebu City.
Monday
- 4:00-5:00 PM (FB Live)
Tuesday
- 4:00-5:00 PM (FB Live)
Wednesday
- 4:00-5:00 PM (FB Live)
Thursday
- 4:00-5:00 PM (FB Live)
Friday
- 4:00-5:00 PM (FB Live)
Saturday
- 4:00-5:00 PM (FB Live)
Sunday
- 6:30-7:30 AM
- 8:00-9:00 AM
- 9:30-10:30 AM
- 4:00-5:00 PM
- 5:30-6:30 PM
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Carmen La Limpia in Cebu City |
| Other Names | Santuario Arquidiocesano de Nuestra Señora del Carmen, La Limpia |
| Address | Corner Magallanes and Leon Kilat Streets., Cebu City 6000 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Contact | (032) 253 4396 |
| olmcp.recoletos@gmail.com | |
| web.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | January 1, 1971 |
| Age | 54 years |
| Status | Archdiocesan shrine |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu |
| District | District I - Metro Cebu North |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of the Most Holy Rosary |
| Patron | Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, The Clean One |
| Feast day | July 16 |
| Religious order | Order of Augustinian Recollects |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1966 |
| Age since completed | 59 years |
Nearby Churches
- Archdiocesan Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Cebu City
- Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in Cebu City
- Blessed Sacrament Parish Church in Cebu City
- Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral in Cebu City
- Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in Cebu City
- Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church in Capitol, Cebu City
- San Vicente Ferrer Parish Church in Cebu City
- Sto. Niño Chapel in Cebu City
References
- Tan, Ivan Rey R. (December 3, 2021). 300-year-old Marian image undergoes restoration. Sunstar. Retrieved July 8, 2022
- Letigio, Delta Dyrecka (April 29, 2022). Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish-Recoletos now the Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Carmen La Limpia. Cebu Daily News. Retrieved July 8, 2022
- Panganiban, Kendrick Ivan B. (May 8, 2022). Cebu’s Mount Carmel Parish declared archdiocesan shrine. Business Mirror. Retrieved July 8, 2022
- Tan, Ivan Rey R. (April 29, 2022). Parish run by Recollects elevated to Archdiocesan shrine. Sunstar. Retrieved July 8, 2022
- Bo, Fei (July 21, 2017). Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Cebu City. Agustinos Recoletos. Retrieved July 8, 2022
- Bo, Fei (September 16, 2016). Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Cebu Displays a New Façade. Agustinos Recoletos. Retrieved July 8, 2022
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu. Retrieved July 9, 2022