Manila devotees of Nuestra Señora de Salvacion, patroness of Albay, celebrated her feast on Aug. 17 with a Concelebrated Mass at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of Salvation Parish in the NDC Compound on Anonas St. in Sta. Mesa.

 

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle officiated the Mass.  Parish priest Fr. Artemio Fabros led the Novena of Masses from Aug. 8 to 16. Bicolanos who could not go home to Joroan in Tiwi, Albay went to Sta. Mesa instead.

 

Origin of the image

 

The image of Salvacion in Joroan was designed and carved out of a local calpe tree by sculptor Bagacumba of Buhi, Camarines Sur. The image was blessed on Aug. 25, 1776 and given to the people of Joroan for veneration. Joroan was then called Cagnipa. Clara Vera wrapped the image in silver vestments in 1860.

 

The Blessed Virgin Mary, as Our Lady of Salvation, was declared Heavenly Patroness of Albay province in the Diocese of Legazpi by the Bishop Teotimo C. Pacis, C.M. of Legazpi on Dec. 8, 1975.

 

Nana Ciso in City Hall

 

In a gesture of love and belief in her powerful patronage, Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivares, son of former Mayor Pablo Olivares, accepted the donation of a two-foot statue of Our Lady of Buen Suceso last Aug. 5 from the Cofradia de Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso, headed by Niel Feliciano.

 

Fr. Dominic Lim, OFM-Conventual, blessed the image and celebrated  the Holy Mass. Now permanently enshrined in the lobby of City Hall, devotees can now pray to her there.

 

I attended the 8:30 a.m. fiesta Mass on Aug. 10 and I heard the celebrant Fr. Jenor Luis say “Our Lady of Buen Suceso is God’s gift to us. Let us also be gifts to others by being instruments in their conversion.”  Devotees in Cavite who cannot come to her church in La Huerta, Parañaque can visit “Nana Ciso” at the Holy Cross Parish in Tanza, Cavite until Aug. 28, feast of St. Augustine of Hippo. Called “Tata Usteng” by devotees, St. Augustine is the patron of the town. Parish priest is Fr. Temmy Lumandas.

 

Patroness of Cavite

 

To explain her visit to Cavite, we are reminded by Cavite historian Fr. Virgilio Mendoza that Buen Suceso was the first patroness of Cavite, including Palanyag (the old name of Parañaque).

 

The image was enthroned in the church of Palanyag on Aug. 10, 1585 by Fray Juam de Guevara. “Bune Suceso” in Spanish means good events or good success. If you are in need of a good event in your life, pray to her.

 

Virgen de los Remedios

 

The replica image of Virgen de los Remedios, patroness of Pampanga, is visiting the Church of Sto. Domingo in Mexico town until Aug. 28. A parish in her name stands in Barrio Baliti in San Fernando that celebrates her feast on Nov. 26. The parish priest is Fr. Fernando David.

 

Marian pilgrimage

 

As the “Year of Faith” continues, a group of Filipino pilgrims is set to depart to the world’s famous Christian holy sites toward the end of the year. A contemplative Marian pilgrimage is departing on Sept. 17. It will visit the Schonbrunn palace in Vienna, Our Lady of Medjugorje in Croatia, Holy House of Loreto, Basilica of St. Mark in Vienna, Santiago de Compostela in Spain (a Unesco World Heritage site), Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Fatimal.

 

Joining this tour is Fr. Max Gatela as pilgrimage chaplain and Sister Eppie Brasil as contemplative prayer companion. Sister Eppie is the founder of the Dominican Sisters of the Regina Rosarii.

 

Holy Land trip

 

Another pilgrimage will depart to the Holy Land and Jordan on Oct. 6 with Fr. Peterson Tieng as pilgrimage chaplain.

 

The group will visit the Treasury in Petra, the “New 7th Wonder of the World”; Church of the Transfiguration in Mount Tabor, and Holy Sepulchre and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

 

Fr. Pete serves as the parish priest of Queen of Peace Parish in Bacolod City.

 

Call Adams Travel at 5223876, 5211651; text Anna Ayo at 0917-5514468.

 

Supporting 15 seminarians

 

Fr. Philip Ibasco, a parish priest of the Divine Mercy Church in Alawihao in Daet, Camarines Norte, told me that Daet has the most number of seminarians.

 

His parish is supporting the studies of 15 young men who want to become priests, which is why the parish council is holding a dinner concert on Sept. 7, 7 p.m., at the Tent of the Avenue Plaza Hotel in Naga City.

 

To be featured are the Platters who, Fr. Philip believes, will bring back people to the songs of yesteryears. To order tickets, text Fr. Philip at 0998-2941792.

 

Those who cannot attend can deposit their donations at Parish of the Divine Mercy at Development of the Philippines (Daet branch) acct. no. 0610-033048-030.

 

Proceeds will also go to the construction of the Pastoral Center.   Readers who want to give financial support to the seminarians may text Fr. Philip.

 

San Exequiel Moreno

 

The feast of San Exequiel Moreno, the Recolleto Spanish bishop of Colombia who once served in the Philippines in the 19th century, will be observed on Aug 19.

 

Masses will be celebrated in the saint’s honor at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the Recoletto church of the Basilica of San Sebastian in Quiapo, Manila.