Vidal declares Sta. Ana Church in Barili town a diocesan shrine

Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal has declared the Sta. Ana Church in Barili town a diocesan shrine.

"I further declare the daughter of Saint Anne, the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception, which occurred in the womb of Saint Anne, secondary patroness of the church and parish," Vidal's letter read.

Vidal has also granted plenary indulgence of the new acclaimed diocese to encourage the people to come in pilgrimage to the Diocesan Shrine.

An indulgences is defined as "the remission before God of the temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven as far as their guilt is concerned." The first thing to note is that forgiveness of a sin is separate from punishment for the sin. Through sacramental confession we obtain forgiveness, but we aren't let off the hook as far as punishment goes.

Indulgences are two kinds: partial and plenary. A partial indulgence removes part of the temporal punishment due for sins. A plenary indulgence removes all of it. This punishment may come either in this life, in the form of various sufferings, or in the next life, in purgatory. - Jasmin R. Uy