The members and personnel of the International Shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo City have expressed their gratitude to Rev. Fr. Reynante Tolentino for his dedicated service to the cathedral and the Virgin of Antipolo.
In a social media post, the community of the Antipolo Cathedral would like to express their deepest gratitude for Tolentino’s unwavering faith, guidance, and dedication that have touched the hearts of countless devotees and parishioners in the cathedral which became an international shrine early this year.
“The entire community has been blessed by your leadership, words, and commitment to the faith, as well as your service to Our Blessed Mother,” the post stated.
Tolentino, who has been known among parishioners and devotees as a very kind person and approachable, has been chosen to become the new rector and parish priest of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Cardona, Rizal.
The new appointment was announced on August 22 by Antipolo Bishop Most Rev. Ruperto C. Santos, D.D, on the social media page of the diocese, as the entire clergy of the Diocese of Antipolo was on the fourth day of the 5-day retreat in Cavite.
Fr. Nante, as he is fondly called by members of the diocese, before becoming the administrator and rector of Antipolo Cathedral starting 2017, became the parish priest at the Our Lady of the Abandoned in Marikina City from 2010-2017 and at the Saint Mary Magdalene Parish in Pililla, Rizal from 2007 to 2010.
Under his watch, the then-national shrine, which is now an international shrine underwent major improvements, making the shrine to be noticed not only by locals but also by foreigners.
The number of pilgrims also grew in numbers and the devotion to the Virgin Mary with the title, Nuestra Señora Dela Paz Y Buenviaje has spread throughout the years not only in the country but also abroad, including the United States of America, as the pilgrim image of the 17th-century old statue is regularly being toured outside the city.
Major events and activities also happened during the term of Fr. Nante that including the global praying of the mysteries of the Holy Rosary in 2022 which was beamed live to all over the world from the Antipolo Cathedral.
Pope Francis also gave a golden rose to the Virgin of Antipolo, a gesture that observers believe was a sign of the pope’s commitment to honoring not only the Virgin Mary but also the shrine’s popularity in spreading God’s words through their devotion to the Our Lady of Antipolo.
Fr. Nante told Manila Bulletin that he will still officiate Holy Masses at the Antipolo Cathedral until the morning of August 31 before he officially assumes his new assignment in the afternoon on the same day.