Information about Apung Macalulu Shrine

Apung Mamacalulu Shrine

Photo by Apung Mamacalulu Shrine

Apung Mamacalulu, which translates to “Merciful Lord,” is a statue that depicts the burial of Jesus Christ enshrined at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Christ our Lord of the Holy Sepulchre in the town of Lourdes Sur in Mexico, Pampanga. Because of the statue’s depiction, it is also referred to as Santo Entierro or “Holy Burial.” 

The devotees of Apung Mamacalulu have long revered the statue as a symbol of hope, especially for people who long for a connection to the Divine during very difficult times. He is believed to bestow mercy even after death, and the devotion celebrates the Lord’s final act of sacrifice for the love of humankind.

While special Holy Mass is celebrated in the shrine every Friday, the congregation and devotees especially gather on Good Friday to mourn the death of Christ. The Philippines, being a predominantly Catholic nation, holds this day holy.

The mourning is done after the Veneration of the Cross. A procession is then held, which culminates back to the church where the statue is brought to the altar where veiled women cry in mourning and gather in prayer, usually spoken in the local Kapampangan language. 

Best time to visit

The church is open all year round and holds regular masses on Fridays.