As you enter, the portico of the Shrine has two niches: in the left niche is the statue of Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, the companion martyr of St. Pedro. This statue, a work of Danilo Cardinio, is a replica of the one in front of the Agaña Cathedral in Guam.

In the right niche is a statue of Saint Joseph, the patron of the Universal Church, holding the Infant Jesus. The statue, again done by Danilo Cardinio, is purposedly placed at threshold of the Shrine because the wise and trustworthy steward Saint Joseph has been placed by the Lord over his household the Church to give them at the proper time their allowance of food, Jesus in the Eucharist – cf. Lk. 12:42. St. Joseph and Blessed Diego, pray for us!