The Archdiocese of Caceres in Naga has begun the two-year preparation to mark the centenary of the canonical coronation of the revered image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
Caceres Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona presided over the launching mass held at the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Naga City, said a Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines News post.
Libmanan Bishop Jose Rojas also celebrated a mass for the launching of the two-year preparation.
Pope Benedict XV granted the canonical coronation of the image of “Ina” on May 13, 1920, in response to the petition of Bishop John Bernard McGinley. The Pontifical coronation took place on Sept. 20, 1924 led by the Apostolic Delegate Archbishop Guglielmo Piani at the Naga Cathedral grounds.
Since Bishop McGinley was already assigned in Los Angeles, California in the United States at that time, the celebration was led by then diocesan administrator Fr. Francisco Reyes, who would later become bishop of Caceres.
The special event coincided with the 40th anniversary of the blessing and dedication of the Church of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
Meanwhile, for the first time in over two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the images of the Divino Rostro (Holy Face of Jesus) and Our Lady of Penafrancia were brought out for a fluvial procession on May 20 along the Naga River to conclude this year’s “Peñafrancia de Mayo.”