Nuestra Señora de Gracia

Location:  Bernardino Street, Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City, Metro Manila

          In the year 1599,  Fr. Juan de Montesdoca was elected Superior Provincial of the Agustinians and it is reputed that in this same year the foundation of the church and convent was started. It is commonly believed that the builder of the

church and convent was Juan Macias the same person who built the San Agustin Church and convent in Intramuros, Manila and not the legendary Fr. Antonio Herrera who never existed. In the meeting of the Provincial Council of March 7, 1601, the church and  the convent was formally received as a DOMUS FORMATA of the Agustinian Order with the title of Nuestra Señora de Gracia. In the Provincial Chapter of April 27, 1602, Fr. Juan de Villalobos was appointed as the first Prior or Superior of the house. Later on, due to the profound devotion of the Spaniards to Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Badajos, Spain and Mexico during that period of exploration, the pious devoted residents of the city of Manila requested for a change of advocation from that of NUESTRA SEÑORA DE GRACIA to that of NUESTRA SEÑORA DE GUADALUPE. The missionaries, always ready to abide the pious request of the people, decided in a Chapter held in Manila in October 1603 to give the title of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. Permission having granted, an image of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe was brought from Spain in 1604.

          After several wars and seventy five years of absence, the Agustinian Fathers returned to Guadalupe to take over the supervision of the parish erected under the patronage of the Blessed Mother in her title, NUESTRA SEÑORA DE GRACIA.