San Mateo, Rizal readies activities for Our Lady of Aranzazu feast, town's foundation day
By Nel Andrade
The local government and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aranzazu in San Mateo, Rizal are preparing for the two major twin activities happening this month in the municipality—the feast day of the Our Lady of Aranzazu on September 9, and the 425th foundation day of San Mateo on September 21.
The national shrine has been holding novena Masses at 6 p.m. until September 8 in time for the September 9 feast day of the revered Marian image holding a red apple and the image of the child Jesus holding a golden globe with a gold cross on it.
The shrine announced that a 6 a.m. Holy Mass will kick off the celebration on the feast day.
At 7 a.m., the annual “Kakanin Festival” or the parade of sweet native delicacies will happen at 7 a.m. to be followed by a pontifical Mass to be presided over by Antipolo Bishop Ruperto C. Santos at 8 a.m.
The Missa Sapientiae or the Mass for teachers and students will be held at 2 p.m. while the Misa de Gracia, the culminating mass on the feast day will happen at 6 p.m. with Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara of the Diocese of Pasig as the celebrant.
The church event carries the theme, “Fiesta 2025: Aranzazu, Spes Nostra (Aranzazu, our hope)”.
The local government has also set up activities for the town’s 450th foundation anniversary on September 21.
Part of the schedule of events in the town are the display of the “Fiesta Tiangge 2025 Baratilyo sa San Mateo (street bazaar) until September 11, the livelihood program for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs), grand medical mission, awarding ceremony on September 21, and a mega job fair on September 25, among others.
The schedule of activities of other local government-funded events can be accessed on the San Mateo Rizal Tourism, Culture, and Arts Office's Facebook page.