A Holy Mass and an early evening procession on March 25 will mark the official elevation of the Antipolo Cathedral into the International Shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. Antipolo Bishop Francis Mendoza De Leon and Rev. Fr. Reynante Tolentino, shrine rector of the Antipolo Cathedral, will preside over the 8 a.m. mass on March 25, where the bishop will officially announce to the churchgoers the elevation of the cathedral into an international shrine following the approval by the Vatican. At 6 p.m. following the 5 p.m. mass, a solemn procession in honor of the Nuestra Senora Dela Paz Y Buenviaje (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage) with its original image standing on the main boat-like carroza adorned with fresh flowers, will pass along the main streets in the city proper. Antipolo Cathedral will officially be known as the International Shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage after Pope Francis had granted the petition of the Diocese of Antipolo headed by Bishop Francis Mendoza De Leon, through the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, for the elevation of the shrine’s status from national to international. The elevation of the status makes the cathedral as the first international shrine in the Philippines and South East Asia and the 11th in the world. Triduum masses are being held at 8 a.m. at the cathedral until March 24 in preparation for the March 25 event. The date of the effectivity of the new status of the Antipolo’s shrine coincides with the celebration of the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord and the anniversary of the image’s departure from Acapulco in Mexico. Fr. Tolentino said the new status would mean a responsibility and challenge for the cathedral, and the devotees of the “Virgin of Antipolo” to sustain their faith in Jesus so that the shrine will remain as an international shrine.