By Christina Hermoso
Bishop Jesse Mercado will celebrate high mass at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 27, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, also known as the Baclaran Church or Redemptorist Church, in Baclaran, Paranaque City, in solemn commemoration of the Feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help (Ina ng Laging Saklolo).
A solemn procession follows the mass. Novena masses were held from June 18 to 26.
Baclaran Church front door (JUN RYAN ARAÑAS / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Devotees traditionally light candles, pray the Holy Rosary, recite novena prayers, sing hymns, offer flowers, and take part in the evening procession in thanksgiving for answered prayers, ask for the Blessed Mother’s powerful intercession, or simply, pay homage to Our Lady under the special title of Mother of Perpetual Help.
Some even walk on their knees from the church door to the altar to ask for special favors.
Church officials encouraged the faithful to pray and reflect on the “Memorare,” a special prayer of devotion and confidence on the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Known as one of the most visited Catholic churches in the country, the Baclaran Church receives hundreds of devotees particularly every Wednesday when traffic in the area is particularly heavy. The novena masses are an old tradition rooted from the Wednesday public novena established by the Redemptorist fathers in 1948.