Thousands of devotees of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, locally known as the ‘Birhen ng Antipolo’ (Virgin of Antipolo) are expected to attend Holy Masses and processions and fill the National Shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage everyday starting this month as the pilgrimage season begins.
The Birhen ng Antipolo-Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage’s Facebook page announced that Sunday Masses will be held at 5 a.m.; 6 a.m.; 8 a.m.; 10 a.m.; 12 noon; 2 p.m.; 4 p.m.; 6 p.m; and 8 p.m. during the pilgrimage season, dubbed as the "Ahunan Sa Antipolo" (going up to Antipolo) from May to July, 2022.
Masses every Monday to Saturday will be held at 6 a.m.; 7 a.m.; 8 a.m.; 9 a.m.; 10 a.m.; 11 a.m.; 12 noon; 4 p.m.; 5 p.m.; and 6 p.m.
Daily Novena masses every 3 p.m. will start on May 4 and will end on July 5.
The first novena mass will be on May 4 until May 12; while the succeeding novena masses will be May 13 to 21; May 22 to 30; May 31 to June 8; June 9 to 17; June 18 to 26; June 27 to July 5.
On April 30, the pilgrim image of the Virgin of Antipolo was moved to Quiapo Church in Manila and was transferred back to the Antipolo shrine on the same day.
At 8 p.m., on May 2, Monday, there will be a concert that will be broadcasted at the Birhen ng Antipolo Facebook.
On May 3, a Holy Mass at Pinagmisahan Hill is scheduled at 7 a.m. to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Mass held in 1947 at Pinagmisahan Hill during the Feast of the Holy Cross. The event officially kicks off the Maytime pilgrimage season.
Vehicles bearing the pilgrims are expected to fill the side streets of the city near the cathedral during the season.
This year’s theme is “Maria: Ina ng Pag-Asa” (Mary: Mother of Hope).
Festivities that attract huge crowd that are related to the pilgrimage season have been cancelled both by the church and city government.