by Joel V. Ocampo
The Santuario de La Salle, a pilgrimage site for educators and a repository of the relic of St. John Baptist de La Salle, located at the De La Salle University – Laguna Campus was declared Jury Winner under the Religious Buildings and Memorials Category in the recently held 2023 Architizer A+Awards.
Santuario de La Salle, a Shrine for Educators | photo from De La Salle Philippines
Architizer A+Awards
The A+Awards celebrates the extraordinary work of the world's best firms, highlighting the work of pioneering architects and designers as they strive to create architecture that will stand the test of time — for this decade and the next.
Santuario de La Salle, previously referred to as the “Shrine of St. John Baptist de La Salle”, was designed by Carlos Arnaiz Architects (CAZA), a Brooklyn-based architecture and design firm, with offices in Manila; Bogotá, Colombia; and Lima, Peru.
Br. Iñigo Riola, FSC: "I’ve been involved in the construction phase of Santuario de La Salle as head of the liturgical committee. After years of planning, consultations, and meetings, I’m glad to see the end result."
Santuario de La Salle
Santuario de La Salle was conceptualized in 2011, constructed during the tercentenary celebration of the death of St. John Baptist de La Salle in 2019, and consecrated in 2022. According to the DLSU website, Santuario de La Salle is the first sanctuary in the world built in honor of the Founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle. It also serves as a repository of the Tercentenary Relic, the largest bone relic of the founder St. John Baptist de La Salle.
The Tercentenary Relic of St. John Baptist de La Salle
File Photos (April 10, 2019) from the Manila Cathedral – Commemoration of the 300th Death Anniversary of St. John Baptist de La Salle
In November 11, 2019, the family of alumnus Ramon “Chito” Villavicencio donated the main sections (Adoration Chapel, Sacristy, and the Chapel of the Relic of St. John Baptist de La Salle) of the Santuario, as a sign of participation in the shared mission to support the holistic development of students and the spiritual nourishment of the community.
The De La Salle Brothers also pursue the process of its recognition as a national shrine, in order to make it a place of pilgrimage and prayer, not only for the Lasallian community but also for the faithful. De La Salle University opens its doors to the faithful following the Consecration of Santuario de La Salle on November 21, 2022 at its Laguna Campus in the City of Biñan, Laguna.