Parañaque is one of my favorite cities for Visita Iglesia. It has a good mix of very old churches and newer ones, and the routes are manageable even with a child in tow. The city also sits close to Las Piñas and Muntinlupa, so if you’re doing a south Metro Manila route, Parañaque is a natural anchor. Here’s a guide to the beautiful churches in Parañaque worth visiting this Holy Week.
Mary Immaculate Parish
Don Lauro Avenue, Levitown Estate, Better Living, Parañaque Facebook
Mary Immaculate Parish was established in 1979 and serves the Levitown Estate community in Better Living, Parañaque. It sits under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Parañaque and has been a steady parish presence in the neighborhood for over four decades. Among the beautiful churches in Parañaque, this one is a quiet and sincere stop, the kind of parish that feels genuinely rooted in its community.
National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians
Mary Help of Christians Street, Better Living Subdivision Facebook
The story of this shrine begins in 1922, when Salesian Archbishop William Piani brought the statue of Mary Help of Christians to the Philippines. Decades later, the Salesian Family fixed their sights on building a proper sanctuary in Metro Manila. The cornerstone was laid on May 24, 1972, on land donated by the Serrano and Dolor families in Better Living Subdivision. The parish was formally created by Cardinal Jaime Sin in June 1975, and the church was consecrated on December 4, 1976. On August 24, 1985, it was officially proclaimed a National Shrine. Among the beautiful churches in Parañaque, this one carries a deep Marian devotion that has been tended by the Salesian Family for generations.
National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help (Baclaran Church)
Baclaran, Parañaque City Facebook
If you’ve grown up Catholic in the Philippines, you already know about the Baclaran Church. The National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is one of the largest Marian churches in the country and one of the most visited beautiful churches in Parañaque year-round. The original icon enshrined above the main altar came from Germany and was brought to the Philippines in 1906 by the Redemptorists. The first Baclaran Novena was held on Wednesday, June 23, 1948, with just 70 participants. Today, Wednesdays draw thousands of devotees, earning the day its local nickname, “Baclaran Day.” The present Modern Romanesque church, designed by architect César Concio, was consecrated on December 1, 1958, and has been open 24 hours a day ever since. In February 1973, then-Archbishop Karol Wojtyła of Kraków offered Mass here, and he returned in 1981 as Pope John Paul II. On June 27, 2023, the shrine was declared an Important Cultural Property by the National Museum of the Philippines. For your Visita Iglesia route, this is a non-negotiable stop.
Padre Pio Parish
KM 18, Garnet St., Severina Diamond, West Service Road, Brgy. Marcelo Green, Parañaque Facebook
Padre Pio Parish is dedicated to St. Padre Pio de Pietrelcina and serves the Severina Subdivision area of Parañaque. The parish has a particular devotion to the saint’s intercession, and the community around it is active and close-knit. Among the beautiful churches in Parañaque, this one holds a quiet intensity that fits the character of the saint it honors. It’s a meaningful addition to any Visita Iglesia route in the southern part of the city.
Resurrection of Our Lord Parish
Gng. E. Gatches St., BF Homes Phase 1, Parañaque City Facebook
This parish began in 1972 as a makeshift chapel with twenty pews in what was then a young and sparsely populated BF Homes. It was canonically erected on February 23 of that year by Cardinal Rufino Santos. The church building was completed in 1981, and by December 1985, it was inaugurated as a basilica-like structure with Cardinal Jaime Sin as one of the main celebrants. A prominent feature added during a later renovation is the striking stained glass mural of the Resurrection scene filling the upper facade of the church. The parish also holds the distinction of establishing the first Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration room in the entire country in 1986. Among the beautiful churches in Parañaque, this one has a layered history that grew alongside its community.
Saint Andrew Cathedral (Parañaque Cathedral)
448 Quirino Ave., Parañaque Facebook
This is one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in the Philippines. Saint Andrew Parish was established on May 11, 1580, by Spanish Augustinian missionaries in a fishing village then called Palanyag, which means sailing. It now serves as the cathedral and episcopal seat of the Diocese of Parañaque, covering the cities of Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Muntinlupa. The church enshrines the image of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso, which was canonically crowned as Patroness of the City of Parañaque on September 8, 2000. The cathedral underwent major renovations completed in 2010, which added stained glass windows depicting key events in the life of Jesus, new marble flooring, and restored images of the patron saints. Among the beautiful churches in Parañaque, this one carries more than four centuries of faith. If you visit only one church in the city, make it this one.
San Agustin Parish
Rodriguez Avenue, San Agustin Village, Moonwalk, Parañaque Facebook
San Agustin Parish serves the San Agustin Village and Moonwalk area of Parañaque. It is distinct from the historic San Agustin Church in Intramuros, though it shares the same Augustinian dedication. The parish provides regular masses and sacraments to its neighborhood community, and its presence in this part of Parañaque makes it a practical and prayerful addition to your Visita Iglesia route. Among the beautiful churches in Parañaque, this one is a grounded community stop that rounds out the list well.
Explore More Beautiful Churches in Metro Manila
Your Visita Iglesia journey doesn’t stop here. We’ve put together city-by-city guides to help you plan your Holy Week route across Metro Manila, one church at a time.
See All Beautiful Churches Here
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