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IN PEACE AND GOOD VOYAGE WITH MOTHER MARY AS OUR FELLOW PILGRIM: QUIAPO CHURCH HOLDS FAREWELL MASS FOR OUR LADY OF PEACE AND GOOD VOYAGE

Nov. 30, 2024 05:26 PM

His Excellency Bishop Ruperto Santos of Diocese of Antipolo presided the 6:00P.M. Farewell Mass to the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage this April 30, 2024, at the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno. From April 27, 2024, it stayed in the church up to this day, which would mark the beginning of the annual Walk for Peace (Alay Lakad sa Kapayapaan) back at the International Shrine and Cathedral of Antipolo after the mass at 7:30 P.M.

“Tayong mga Pilipino ay maka-ina. At para sa ating Ina ang ating ginagawa” (We, Filipinos, love [our] Mother [Mary]. We, in turn, do everything for her) “Ang Mahal na Birhen ay patuloy na naglalakad para sa atin” (The Virgin Mary walks with us) as Bishop Santos described her as the “larawan ng kaniyang awa at habag, pagmamalasakit at pag-ibig” (image of mercy, compassion and love) because she calls, seeks and accompanies.

The first point the bishop raised is “dadalhin o ibibigay sa ating mahal na anak na si Hesus” (drawing us closer to her beloved Son, Jesus). This statement referred to the visitation of Mary to her cousin, Elizabeth after the Annunciation. Elizabeth was pregnant with St. John the Baptist, hence, the meeting of the cousins from the womb, whom Mary shared the good news of salvation.

The second point is “mayroong himala, mayroong milagro” (there are miracles). For nothing is impossible with God as we reach out to Him through our prayers, we are also doing this though the intercession of our Mother Mary. Just as like during the turning of water into wine during the wedding at Cana, when Mother Mary had told the servants to “do as He (Jesus) says”.

The third, and last, point, is “kapiling sa anumang yugto” (with us always in every chapter), like the Mother Mary, who stayed by Jesus’ side from his passion and death on the cross. [Our] Mother Mary will be always beside us especially times of help or in dire needs or situation.

This farewell mass is concelebrated by Rev. Fr. Rufino C. Sescon Jr., Basilica-Shrine rector and parish priest along with his parochial vicars: Rev. Frs. Jonathan Noel Mojica, Robert Arellano, LRMS, and Jesus Madrid Jr.. Together with them in celebrating the mass is Rev. Fr. Reynante Tolentino, rector of the International Shrine and Cathedral of Antipolo.

“Ahunan”: Let us go to Antipolo

At 7:30P.M. of April 30, 2024, the traditional Walk for Peace commenced with the departure from the Quiapo Basilica-Shrine to the song of “Mabuting Paglalakbay”. The walk spanned a total of 24 kilometers from Quiapo Church to the Antipolo Cathedral.

According to history, this commemorates the return of the image of Our Lady of Antipolo when it had temporarily sought refuge at the Quiapo church during the Second World War. This year made everything extraordinary between these two shrines with the declaration of Antipolo church as international shrine and Quiapo church as national shrine.     

– Kidanzac A. Tallada | ADRM & EIAM