The Diocese of Antipolo is inviting the faithful to witness the Pontifical coronation of the revered Nuestra Señora de Fatima de Marikina on Sunday, May 12 at the Shrine and Parish of St. Paul of the Cross in Marikina City.
“Let us all gather and witness the Pontifical coronation of the Nuestra Señora de Fatima de Marikina, the sixth Marian image in the Diocese of Antipolo that has been granted of the recognition by the Pope,” the diocese said in a Facebook post.
“This momentous event will take place at the Shrine and Parish of St. Paul of the Cross in Marikina, on the eve of the Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima, on May 12, at exactly 9 a.m. and will be presided by the Bishop of Antipolo, Most Rev. Ruperto C. Santos, D.D. Let us celebrate and gather as one as we ‘Behold thy Mother’ and show our love and affection to our Blessed Virgin Mary. Viva, Nuestra Señora de Fatima de Marikina! Viva, La Virgen!” the Diocese of Antipolo said.
The special event in honor of the Blessed Mother coincides with the observance of Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 12.
The Vatican’s Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of Sacraments through its Archbishop Secretary Vittorio Francesco Viola, O.F.M., in the name of His Holiness, Pope Francis granted the Decree of the Canonical Coronation of Our Lady of Fatima in Marikina City, on Jan. 24 this year.
The Diocese of Antipolo now has six Pontifically crowned Marian images namely the Nuestra Señora Dela Paz y Buenviaje from the The International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, Antipolo; Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados from the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Abandoned, Marikina City; Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu from the Diocesan Shrine – Parish of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu, San Mateo; Nuestra Señora de la Lumen from the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Light, Cainta; Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario from Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Cardona; and the image of Nuestra Señora de Fatima de Marikina.
In a pastoral message titled “Blessing after Blessing,” Bishop Santos expressed his gratitude to God “the source of all the love and kindness” and to Pope Francis for granting the request of the diocese for the Pontifical coronation of the revered image.
“It is with grateful hearts that we, in the Diocese, share and offer this tremendous blessing after blessing to all of you. We express our sincere gratitude to God, the source of all the love and kindness through our Lord Jesus Christ,” the Church leader said.
“We also profess our immense appreciation to His Holiness Pope Francis for this enormous and symbolic gift which will surely deepen our devotion to the mother of our Lord Jesus, who is also our mother,” said Bishop Santos.
The Church leader likewise expressed his gratitude to the pastoral council and the lay faithful of the diocese.
“We appreciate and are also thankful for the dedication and devotion of the pastoral council and the lay faithful of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish Church of St. Paul of the Cross with the able spiritual leadership of Fr. Vicentico Flores, Jr. for their united effort, selfless service and hard work to come up with the necessary documents, presentations and devotion that resulted in the fruitful approval of our beloved Holy Father,” Bishop Santos said