Excerpt from an article on Inquirer.net!Naga celebrates feast of Peñafrancia
THE FEAST of our Lady of Peñafrancia, patroness of Bicol, is celebrated on the third Sunday of September (September 20 this year). This is a great feast among Bicolanos and devotees from all over the Philippines who fly to Naga for the fluvial procession on the third Saturday, September 19.
The Novena of Masses is preceded by the translacion on September 11 at 1:30 p.m., which is the transfer of the image of “Ina” from the Peñafrancia Shrine to the Metropolitan Cathedral. Included in the procession is the “Divino Rostro.”
By tradition, only men are allowed to follow the line holding on to the rope attached to the carroza. The men come in fulfillment of a panata to thank the Virgen de Peñafrancia for favors received or to ask for a favor. People line up the streets waiting for the image to pass by and whisper their petitions.
Fiesta theme
“Sharing the future in hope” is this year’s fiesta theme. The Archdiocese of Nueva Caceres marks the Tricentennial of the devotion in September, 2010. Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi, OP, will open the Novena of Masses on September 11, 6 p.m., at the Metropolitan Cathedral.
The fluvial procession begins at 3 p.m. on September 19, from the Naga Cathedral going to the bridge where the flower-bedecked barge awaits the Virgen de Peñafrancia.
Only men can climb the barge that would bring the image to the Basilica de Peñafrancia shrine. At least 200 voyadores or boatmen pull the barge down the river. People wait along the riverbank with lighted candles. When the Virgin passes them, they wave their handkerchiefs in welcome.
I have participated in the parade for the past years and my prayers have always been answered. A friend of mine who was with me one time was able to get a US visa that same year.
When the image will reach the Basilica, Daet Bishop Gilbert Garcera will officiate the Concelebrated Mass in English at the Basilica Golden Pavilion. Monsignor Romulo Vergara is Rector and parish priest. The Caceres Chorale will sing.
‘Ina’ in Macau
The Bicolanos in Macau will also hold Novena Masses for Our Lady of Peñafrancia on September 11, at 7:30 p.m., at the Catholic Pastoral Center. Father Alex Barnedo, Father Pedro Balde and Father Jun Tagaytay who belong to the Society of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity (SOLT) which was founded in Bicol will say the Novena Masses. Attending are Macau Labor office staff Jingky Bayog, Tonette Harris and Tita Gille who help in the center.
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