The Cofradia de la Inmaculada Concepcion holds its 33rd grand Marian procession on Dec. 1, Sunday, 4 p.m.
The procession will start at the Manila Cathedral and wind its way around the streets of Intramuros.
Tuguegarao Archbishop Emeritus Diosdado Talamayan will lead the prayers at the start of the procession.
Held with the Intramuros Administration, the procession will be preceded by a Triduum of Masses and the First Communion of 500 children from public schools.
It is organized every year by Cofradia’s board members, headed by founding chair Imelda Ongsiako Cojuangco and president Aurora Eizmendi.
Triduum of Masses will begin Nov. 26 and end Nov. 28 at 11:45 a.m. at San Agustin Church. Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani will lead in the giving of First Communion on Nov. 29, 9 a.m., at San Agustin Church.
Hermanas mayores this year are Fe Esperanza Rodriguez, Maritess Pineda and Mita Rufino. The Cofradia has invited the metropolitan archbishop of Yangoon, Myanmar, the Most Rev. Charles Bo, a Salesian, to preside over the Hermanas Mass on Dec. 1, 2 p.m., at San Agustin Church. Some 90 Marian images are joining this year’s procession.
‘La Soledad’
in San Diego, California
Bicolanos living in San Diego, California, have continued the tradition of celebrating the fiesta of Our Lady of Soledad de Porta Vaga.
Yesterday, Rev. Fr. Virgilio Saenz Mendoza, parish priest of Naic, Cavite, celebrated Mass at St. Charles Church in Imperial Beach with the “Los Chabacanos” as sponsors. Today, Our Lady of Soledad Block Rosary Group will gather for Mass in the auditorium of Rancho del Rey Middle School in San Diego, California. Fr. Vir Mendoza will celebrate Mass.
In Cavite City today, Imus Bishop Rey Evangelista will officiate the concelebrated Mass at 9 a.m. at San Roque Church. Fr. Jojo Zerrudo will celebrate Mass at 6 p.m. followed by the procession at 7 p.m.
Rosary Garden
Louie Reyes of Asian Publishers, who made possible the Catholic Book Awards in the ’90s, e-mailed me the good news that a Rosary Garden has been carved out of the hilly terrain behind the parish church of Immaculate Heart of Mary in Taktak, Antipolo, and was blessed on Oct. 17 by Antipolo Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes.
Called “Rosarium,” the garden is a mini replica of “The Way of Mary,” the series of 20 shrines representing the Mysteries of the Rosary along Ortigas Avenue, from Edsa Shrine to Antipolo Cathedral.
It is a project of the Family Rosary Movement of the parish, which counts over 1,500 families as members. It is expected to attract the young and old to make a rosary pilgrimage to Antipolo.
The same Angono artist who did the images of “The Way of the Cross,” Nemi Miranda, also did the images for the Rosarium. It is now open to the public.
Our Lady
of Remedies fiesta
Devotees of Our Lady of Remedies—the virgin of succor of pregnant women who pray for safe childbirth and of women who go through a difficult time trying to conceive—are holding a nine-day novena until Nov. 16. Her fiesta is celebrated on the third Sunday, Nov. 17.
Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle will officiate the concelebrated Mass at 9 a.m. on fiesta day. This year’s fiesta theme is “Mary: Model Disciple who listens to the Word of God in this Year of Faith.”
Novena Mass presiders
Today, Nov. 10, Fr. Sanny de Claro, Ermita Shrine; Nov. 11, Msgr. Hernando “Ding” Coronel, San Carlos Seminary; Nov. 12, Fr. Willy Araña, OSA, San Agustin Convent and Monastery; Nov. 13, Fr. Victorino Cueto, CSsR, Redemptorist Shrine in Baclaran; Fr. Felino Gueco, SDB, Don Bosco Academy; Fr. Genaro Diwa, Commission on Liturgy, Arzobispado; and Fr. Patrick O’Donoghue, MSSC.
Fundraising
for Malate Church
Malate Church continues to raise funds to complete the restoration of the 428-year-old church. On Nov. 29, 7 p.m., the band Highway 54 will perform at Palacio de Manila along Roxas Boulevard.
The parish office staff is ready for calls from generous donors asking for tickets that cost P500 each. For details, please call Dang Nachor, Jocelyn Lomboy, Sharon Medina, Lea Sorreda, Gigi Arevalo, Ram Espina or Maricres Quiman at tel. 4005876-77 or text 0939-2268102.
Remembering
Sto. Niño Church
Well-known jeweler Celia Molano and I were reminiscing that time in 1993 when we visited the small Sto. Niño Church in La Huerta, Parañaque.
Niel Feliciano, who was from that district, showed us around, pointing out the need to improve the altar. Celia immediately offered to donate her jewelry for auction. The lunch was at the Prego restaurant of Larry Cruz, who himself gave full support.
The Sto. Niño Church is now a parish.
Blessings to Mang Ben Farrales
It felt good to be at the SMX Convention Center watching the models parade the collection of Ben Farrales, who closed Philippine Fashion Week Spring-Summer 2014. It was a tribute to a man who knew his craft and has been called the Dean of Philippine Fashion.
Looking good despite the onslaught of time, he was guided to the stage by a teary-eyed Ogie Atos, who directed the show, and designer Tonichi Nocom, as the audience stood up for a standing ovation he deserved.
Mass of Remembrance
The Prayer Warriors of the Holy Souls will hold a Mass of Remembrance tomorrow, 11 a.m., at the Chapel of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the lower level of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral on Lantana Street, Quezon City. The public is invited.