The Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life with Saint (Pope) John Paul II Youth Center are fulfillment of the Pope’s dream to have a center for the young people as he expressed during the 10th World Youth Day celebration in 1995.
The Shrine of Jesus and the Youth Center is a fitting monument to the unprecedented attendance to the Holy Father’s Eucharistic Celebration in Luneta Park, wherein more than six million people from all walks of life and from different corners of the world, gathered, to join the said celebration.
In the pope’s message to the young people in attendance, he highlighted that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. From this, the Shrine got its name.
The Shrine of Jesus and the Youth Center is a project of the late Archbishop of Manila, His Eminence Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, DD whose love for the youth is of the same fervor and intensity as the Holy Father. The land and the church was donated and built by Mr. & Mrs. Henry Sy Sr., of the Shoe Mart Group of companies.
It was consecrated and dedicated on July 9, 1999 by His Eminence, the late Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, DD; with His Excellency, Archbishop Antonio Franco, DD, the Apostolic Nuncio; His Eminence, the late Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, DD, Archbishop of Cebu, the Archbishops and Bishops of the Philippines in the presence of a very large number of the faithful specially the youth as witness to the momentous event.
On the same day, the first Shrine Rector was installed in the person of Rev. Msgr. Roberto C. Canlas.
Shrine of Jesus 