Shrine Ministry’s Cofradia strikes a pose with Bicol’s Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
Our patroness was invited once more in the Bicol region just a week after the Marian Procession in Legazpi, Albay, as the Basilica Minore of Naga City, Camarines Sur celebrated the centenary of the Canonical Coronation of the Queen of Bicolandia — Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia de Naga.
A Marian exhibit was held inside the Basilica’s museum from May 3-10 featuring various titles of the Blessed Virgin Mary, venerated across the Bicol region as well as some of the selected Marian images outside the province. Our Lady of Aranzazu was chosen as one of the Coronadas to grace in the exhibition where the delegates from the recent Albay procession accompanied by the Rector and Parish Priest (Fr. Ric Eguia) dropped off the vicaria image of the Virgin of Aranzazu in Naga, City straight from Albay province last May 3.
The Shrine Ministry team along with its Cofradia, Knights, and Hermana Mayor 2024 Ms. Anna Santos, went back to Naga last May 11 to accompany the image of the Virgin of Aranzazu in the much-awaited Naga Marian Procession. Different Canonically crowned images of the Virgin in the country participated in the said event such as Guadalupe de Cebu from Cebu, City, Apo Caridad of Bantay Ilocos Sur, Virgen Milagrosa de Orani of Orani Bataan, Dela Merced de Novaliches of Quezon City, Peñafrancia de Manila of Paco Manila, Soledad de Porta Vaga of Cavite City, and many others.
An exquisite carroza for Our Lady was transported all the way from Buhi, Camarines Sur through the efforts of the Familia Sumalabe. Our delegation was accompanied by the altar servers from San Antonio de Padua Parish of Camaligan, Camarines Sur with their Youth Ministry who performed the Pamimintuho dance. The procession lasted for more than three hours followed by a simple buffet dinner with various Bicolano dishes served at Bishop Alberto Hall.
After spending one more night, the delegates spent the following day visiting the Arzobispado and attending the Bicolano mass at Naga Cathedral.
The Shrine Ministry’s efforts to propagate Aranzazu devotion throughout the country is a component part of their application to be elevated to the status of National Shrine, ideally in 2024.
