The Basilica of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Kaohsiung, the cradle of Catholicism in Taiwan
The basilica of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Kaohsiung is the oldest Catholic church in Taiwan and the cradle of Catholicism on the island: it was founded around 1859- 1860 by the Spanish Dominicans Fernando Sainz and Angel Bofurull, arrived from the Philippines by the port of Takao. The present majestic temple, of neo-Gothic air with Romanesque elements, was erected in 1928 and is the seat of the bishop of Kaohsiung.
🌹 Wonders and anecdotes
- It all began in 1859, when Spanish Dominican missionaries from Manila landed in the port of Takao - the current Kaohsiung - and planted there the first seed of the Catholic faith in Taiwan; the first stone of the temple was placed in 1860.
- On the main altar, an image of the Virgin with the Child was venerated under the title of the Holy Rosary dating from 1863: it accompanied the Taiwanese faithful from the first years of the mission.
- The current building, built in 1928 and of inspiration near the Manila Cathedral, combines Gothic needles, bow windows and rosetons; it is considered one of the great Catholic temples of Asia and the citizens voted it as the first historic milestone of Taiwan in 2001.
- St. John Paul II raised it to the lower basilica by the Pontifical Decree "Deipara in Cælis" of May 22, 1995, and the dedication ceremony as a basilica was held in 1998: the recognition of Rome to the mother church of the Taiwanese Catholicism.
Ntra. Sra. del Santo Rosario
Founded by Spanish Dominicans who arrived from Manila in 1859, the Basilica of the Holy Rosary of Kaohsiung is the oldest church in Taiwan and since 1863 it has kept the image of the Virgin of the Rosary that accompanied the first steps of faith on the island.
"Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, the first Mother of faith in Taiwan, pray for your children on that island.
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