September is a great month for Marian devotees. The Nativity of the Virgin Mary is celebrated on Sept. 8, followed by the feasts of Our Lady of Sorrows on Sept. 15 and Our Lady of La Salette on Sept. 19.
The most popular among these feasts is the fiesta of Our Lady of Peñafrancia on the third Saturday of September (Sept. 21 this year) in Naga City.
Those who cannot go to Naga will go to the Triduum of Masses organized by the Metro Manila Peñafrancia Devotees Association on Sept. 12-14, 6 p.m. in the historic Malate Catholic Church (Our Lady of Remedies Parish) to be led by acting parish priest, Fr. Leo Distor, SSC.
The Peñafrancia feast will be celebrated on Sept. 15, 6 p.m., at the San Agustin Church in Intramuros with a concelebrated High Mass to be officiated by the Bishop Gilbert Garcera of Daet, Camarines Norte.
Carrying ‘Ina’ to Agripina Circle
Female devotees are also invited to a rare chance to carry the image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia atop an anda in a procession from Malate Church to Agripina Circle and then to the San Agustin Church starting at 2 p.m. on Sept. 15 from Malate Church.
This year’s theme of the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is: “Ina, Our Loving Mother and Best Advocate to Her Son, Jesus Christ.”
Fluvial procession
The devotees of Peñafrancia in Siruma town, Camarines Sur, will hold a fluvial procession on Sept. 4, 3 p.m. Led by new parish priest, Fr. Paul Martino Tirao, the procession will have 12 boats, one of them carrying the image of “Ina.”
The next day, 9 a.m., Naga Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona will install Fr. Pablo Tirao as the new parish priest. The young priest was ordained on June 9, 2006 by Naga Auxiliary Bishop Jose Roxas.
Dedicated formator
Fr. Paul was inspired to be a good priest by Fr. Ciriaco “Cacoy” Buena, former parish priest of Our Lady of Assumption Parish in Canaman. Father Paul said, “I have been a witness to Father Buena’s remarkable dedication of being both a father and a formator.”
Father Buena rebuilt the Parish Church of Our Lady of the Assumption. Father Paul wants to rebuild the church of St. Anthony of Padua in Siruma which, at 300 years old, is now decrepit.
He is seeking help from readers.
Devotees of St. Anthony de Padua and other donors may send donations to the parish bank account at Banco de Oro in Naga City: Parish of St. Anthony of Padua: 006820260333.
Remedios in Candaba
For years, Josephine Miranda has been faithfully giving me updates about the fiesta of Virgen de los Remedios, patroness of Pampanga.
The pilgrim image will leave the Church of Sto. Domingo in Mexico town today, 7 a.m., and will be brought to Virgen de Lourdes Parish in Palang, Candaba. Fr. Conrado David, parish priest of Mexico, will lead the transfer.
Remedios in Los Angeles
US-based Vidal Aguas of Floridablanca sent us the good news that Kapampangan folk living in Los Angeles will hold a eucharistic celebration honoring the Virgen de los Remedios on Sept. 8, 3:30 p.m., at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels.
Organized by the Apostolate of Virgen de los Remedios and the Riteneans of Southern California, the devotees will attend the Mass in their national costumes. The event will also mark the 57th canonical coronation of the image.
The devotion
The Filipinos’ devotion to Virgen de los Remedios dates back to the galleon trade between Mexico and the Philippines during the Spanish era. The Virgen de los Remedios’ image was brought by Spanish missionaries and was enshrined at Malate Church.
In 1952, Bishop Cesar Maria Guerrero entrusted Pampanga in the patronage of the Blessed Mother. He sent out the image of Remedios to visit every village, town and city where the people could gather in prayer and learn from Mary the right way to live, to find God and to live in harmony.
San Pedro Calungsod in Nabua
Arlene Fordan and couple Beth and Badong Lagaroza were my fellow pilgrims to the canonization of San Pedro Calungsod in Rome on Oct. 21, 2012.
Residents of Nabua, Camarines Sur, they told me their intention to donate an image of the saint to Holy Cross Parish there. So on Dec. 23, 2012 the image was blessed and enthroned there by Naga Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona.
Parish priest is Fr. Wilfredo Almoneda.
We call on reader Belen Caringal of Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro. My letter to you containing the Sto. Niño de Cebu healing cloths was sent back. Please write me again.
2,000 Hail Mary’s
Our Lady of Medjugorje Prayer Group will pray the 2,000 Hail Mary’s, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Mary Queen of Peace Parish at Queen’s Row, Bacoor, Cavite, on Sept. 7, the first Saturday.
On Sept. 8, 2 p.m., a motorcade of Marian images will go around the district at 2 p.m.
Text Letty at 0918-5047810 for prayer requests.