Acts of penance, charity works and a conference about the Virgin Mary will highlight the first Marian International Festival in the Diocese of Antipolo in Rizal Province from January 9 to January 11.
The festival, to be held annually starting this year in the diocese, will be in honor of the miraculous Nuestra Señora dela Paz Y Buenviaje (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage), a 17th century-old image of the Virgin Mary enshrined in the Antipolo cathedral.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the Vatican’s Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, will lead a Marian conference and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 10 a.m. on January 11 at the International Shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, otherwise known as the Antipolo Cathedral.
The event will begin on January 9 with the Sacrament of Confession in the cathedral to give everyone an opportunity for spiritual renewal. Holy Mass and confession will be at 6 a.m., 12 noon, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday.
On January 10, the community will engage in works of charity to the needy in the diocese, particularly feeding program, distribution of school supplies, and free medical services.
The festival carries the theme, “Our Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother and model in our pilgrimage of hope.”
Antipolo Bishop Ruperto C. Santos, in an open letter posted on the social media page of the Diocese of Antipolo, invites everyone's participation, and says the start of the annual event to be held in the diocese starting this year is a "solemn and uplifting gathering, that will unite us in prayer and thanksgiving honoring the Blessed Mother and deepening our faith."
