Hundreds of thousands of devotees gathered for the annual “Traslacion” of Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Naga City on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the canonical coronation of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
The traditional procession, participated in by Catholic school students from Bicol, devotees, and “Voyadores,” began on foot at Our Lady of Peñafrancia Church.
It traversed the long roads of Peñafrancia, circled Plaza Quince Martires, and continued until the images of the Blessed Divino Rostro and the beloved “Ina” of Bicolandia reached the Metropolitan Cathedral for a solemn Holy Mass.
Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon of Caceres urged devotees to renew and honor their commitments, not only to their faith but also to their responsibilities in life.
The prelate emphasized the longstanding vow of the clergy to safeguard the devotion to the Divino Rostro and Our Lady of Peñafrancia, underscoring the importance of devotion to these sacred images.
He highlighted the symbolism of the clergy carrying the image of the Divino Rostro during processions, as a testament to their commitment to the people of God.
“Whenever the image of the Divino Rostro is processed, it is first carried by the clergy, because it was their vow. A vow made not only for themselves but for the people of God. We also made a vow to take care of the devotion to Ina,” he said.
The Archbishop called on all devotees to take their commitments seriously, whether in their faith, families, or communities.
“Sisters and brothers, our commitment for this year and the challenge for all of us is that we all grow in keeping our vows and promises or commitments whatever is the status of our life – commitment to God, commitment to our family, commitment to the community, commitment to our advocacies and friends. May nurturing our devotion to the Divino Rostro and to our Ina, give us renewed fervor towards God and caring for our neighbor,” Alarcon said.
He further stressed the need for self-reflection, urging the faithful to use the symbols of their devotion as reminders of their vows. “To be true to our commitment, we must continue to use the symbols of our commitment because these remind us of and reinforce our commitment.”
A significant part of this year’s celebration is the unveiling of the newly restored 142-year-old image of the Divino Rostro, which was restored in collaboration with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the Archdiocese of Caceres, and the Peñafrancia Basilica. Archbishop Alarcon noted that this restoration serves as a symbol of the community’s deep devotion.
Archbishop Alarcon also announced that plans are underway to preserve the centuries-old image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, which was canonically crowned in 1924.
He emphasized the significance of preserving these sacred images, saying, “Concretely, we take care of the images of devotion; by doing so, we nurture, preserve, and hopefully continue to share the devotion.”
The prelate encouraged the faithful to give of themselves fully in their commitments, warning that without this self-giving, vows may fade over time.
To commit ourselves in nurturing, preserving, and sharing the devotion to Ina and to the Divino Rostro, we need to give our own selves. Without the giving of self, the vow of commitment will fade,” he said.
All photos by Jarvis Ivan Sadiua
