SHRINE NEWS: There are lots of exciting events and interesting plans for the shrine this fall and as summer ends. We are drawing attention and interest from all over from people wishing to spend time at our beautiful shrine. We welcome all. This month as we have for many years in the past will once again be hosting the Feast of Our Lady of Penafrancia along with the Filipino community of Greater Boston. It will be great to see the beautiful statue parade around the new landscaped surroundings. We are asking for prayers for nice weather as it coincides with Labor Day weekend
In Naga, in the Bicol region in the center-west of the Philippines, September is a time of intense religious and civic celebration organized around devotion to Bicol’s patron, Our Lady of Peñafrancia, who is endearingly referred to by her local devotees as Ina, or Mother. As is true in a number of instances in the Philippines, the Peñafrancia festival actually links two seemingly unrelated feasts to make one extended celebration. In this case, the pairing includes the Divino Rostro, the Divine Face, celebrated on the second Friday of September, and Our Lady of Peñafrancia, celebrated the following weekend. Both celebrations are important to locals, but the Peñafrancia celebration draws the most vocal and fervent devotion.
The Peñafrancia festival has come to be an important marker of the city’s identity, so much so that Naga often refers to itself as the “pilgrim city” in its public relations initiatives. The city is even home to a massive triumphal arch, the Porta Mariae, with a gold image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia on top. Religious pilgrimage is a core element of the Peñafrancia events, but the weeks surrounding the actual feast days are packed with a diverse and seemingly secular array of civic celebrations By: Arnulfo Valderama Fortunado, Esmeralda Fortunado-Sanchez, Thomas M. Landy
FIRST SATURDAY: On Sept. 4th we will celebrate First Saturday Mass and devotion at the Shrine together as in years past the feast of Our Lady of Penafrancia. A great devotion, if people would like to begin the novena beforehand they can start on August 27th at 7pm on Zoom: Meeting ID:771 2342 1661 Passcode:187375. Mass on Saturday will begin at 9am; a Eurcharistic Holy Hour begins at 8am before Mass. Rev. Chrysostom B. Exaltacion S.J., will be the celebrant. We plan on processing around the grounds as part of the First Saturday devotion with the statue of Our Lady of Penafrancia. Confessions will be available followed by coffee and doughnuts and other treats. This will partially be sponsored by the Filipino Devotees of Mother Mary. We will have hand sanitizer on hand, and an indoor/outdoor setup.
CANDLELIGHT PROCESSION: I hope all could join us for our fifth of six Candlelight processions on Monday September 13th. The most Rev. Ed Riley will be our honored Guest. We will begin at 8PM at the shrine, there is plenty of room both inside and outside, pray that the weather will be nice.
SANTO ROSARIO: Santuario Nuestra Señora de Fátima. The Spanish Community of St. Columbkille’s most Holy Rosary group meets at the shrine at 3pm every First Saturday of the month for song, prayer and fellowship all are welcomed.
PRAYER CENACLE AND MASS Wednesday September 29 at 10am join us for a MMP prayer cenacle and Mass. Celebrant will be Father Andre M. Feain, F.I. a priest of the Institute Franciscans of the Immaculate.
SUNDAY ROSARY FOR PEACE: A reminder that there are still a handful of us that meet at the shrine every Sunday to come together to pray for peace. We begin around 2pm, feel free to stop by.
REMINDER: A Pro-Life Rosary for our nation continues at the Shrine daily around noon all are welcomed; With a special attention given to the devotion of the Holy Face of Christ.
