Parish in Olongapo City holds coronation of Marian image amid pandemic

Bishop Bartolome Santos of the Diocese of Iba in Zambales leads the “episcopal coronation” of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Maquinaya at the Immaculate Conception Parish in Barangay Barretto, Olongapo City (Contributed photo)

OLONGAPO CITY — The Diocese of Iba in Zambales province held the “episcopal coronation” of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Maquinaya, the patroness of Barangay Barretto, here on Sunday, August 22.

Bishop Bartolome Santos led the crowning of the Marian image at the Immaculate Conception Parish in time for the Memorial of the Queenship of Mary that day.

Episcopal Coronation is done by the bishop of a certain diocese to recognize sacred images designated for public veneration.

Some devotees gathered to witness the ceremony, saying they believed that their patroness is taking care of them with her “maternal love.”

But to maintain safety health protocols, other devotees stayed outside of the church as only 150 persons were allowed inside.

“Devotion to Nuestra Señora became part of the everyday life of residents here,” said Alvin Alcantara, president of cofradia or the group responsible for the material care of the image.

The group was formally established on February 20 after several delays caused by the pandemic.

Despite the pandemic, the coronation rite was pursued considering that worship services are allowed in areas that are under modified general community quarantine or MGCQ on a 50-percent capacity, the group said. MGCQ is the least restrictive classification of anti-coronavirus lockdown in the country.

The Immaculate Conception Parish, the church group Cofradia de La Virgen Soledad de Maquinaya, and the Sangguniang Barangay of Barretto have closely coordinated with each other and ensured that the said event strictly followed minimum health protocol as prescribed by the national pandemic task force.