Our Lady of Peñafrancia. Photo from Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines—As Filipinos mark Mother’s Day on Sunday, the image of Bicol’s famed “Ina,” the Our Lady of Peñafrancia, will begin a voyage on a pilgrim train to various Metro Manila parishes, including the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines website said the image will depart Naga City at 7 a.m. Sunday on board Philippine National Railway’s “Pilgrim Train” after an overnight vigil and a morning Mass.
The image will be accompanied by a 15-man delegation from the group 3 Million Rosaries for Ina Crusade.
Marilyn Flores, a member of the group, said the pilgrim train will make whistle stops in Ragay, Hondagua, Lucena and San Pablo to give devotees a chance to pray before the image.
As soon as “Ina” arrives at the Tutuban station in Manila, a Mass will be celebrated and an overnight vigil would follow.
The image will be brought to the Santa Monica Parish in Tondo the following day to remain there until May 18. On May 21, it will be transferred to the Santa Maria Goretti Parish Church at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center on United Nations Avenue.
On May 21 up to the 23rd, the image will be at the Philippine Daily Inquirer offices on Chino Roces Avenue in Makati City.
Flores said “Ina’s” itinerary had not been finalized but her visit to selected parishes would last for either three days, through a triduum prayer, or nine days, through a novena.
“After the prayers to ‘Ina,’ there will be a ‘mantling,’ a healing ministry unique to Our Lady of Peñafrancia that involves the laying of her ‘manto’ (cape) on the faithful,” Flores said.
The image’s trip to Metro Manila is aimed at spreading devotion to “Ina” beyond the Bicol region and to invite the laity’s participation in the crusade to raise three million rosaries for the Virgin Mary.
Under the 3 Million Rosaries for Ina Crusade, rosaries will be distributed to public elementary and high school students nationwide.
“Ina” will end her pilgrimage and travel back to Naga City on the Pilgrim Train in September, in time for the feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
The Archdiocese of Nueva Caceres celebrated the 300th anniversary of Bicolano devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia in 2010.
The image had been making the rounds of Metro Manila parishes on request, most recently in the summer of 2010 and 2011.