(Lipa City, Sept. 12) – Despite being a Monday, thousands of pilgrims not only from the Archdiocese but also from all over the country, including several from Malaysia and other Asean countries, flocked to Lipa City, acknowledged as the “Marian capital” of the Philippines.
The day started with a dawn procession from the Cathedral of San Sebastian, where a whole night vigil took place, to the newly-erected Parish of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace, a kilometer away from Carmel Church. The parish was canonically erected September 8. After the benediction, a Eucharistic sacrifice presided over by Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, concelebrated by Bishop Renato Mayugba, Auxiliary Bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan and twenty other priests, followed. A Marian concert which featured 7 choirs from near-by parishes filled up the time till around 11am. After a children’s rosary, another procession leading to Carmel Church was held at 1pm.
Upon reaching the Carmel grounds, which was already then teeming with thousands of pilgrims, Archbishop Arguelles led the faithful in Benediction. The grand choir of the Archdiocese then sang the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy. But not all before the VIPs came: Vice President Jejomar Binay, Batangas Governor Vilma Santos Recto, Vice-Governor Mark Leviste, Lipa City Mayor Meynard Sabili, Rep. Mark Leandro Mendoza of the province’s third district, Ambassador to Vatican Mercy Tuazon, the delegates to the Asia-Oceania Mariological Conference II, PNP and military officers and other local government and non-government officials.
Among Church officials present were Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, who crowned the statue of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace, Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Collin Bogaforo, Vigan Archbishop Ernesto Salgado, Boac Bishop Rey Evangelista, Bishop-emeritus Salvador Quizon, Archbishop John Ribat of Papua New Guinea, and other priests-attendees of the AOMC2.
In his homily, Archbishop Ramon Arguelles recounted the history of the Carmel phenomenon. He said that despite Rome’s decision to uphold the 1951 decision of the Committee which investigated the shower of petals and declared tht there was “no supernatural” in these events”, he said that Vatican is still encouraging devotion to Mary Mediatrix of All Grace. Later in the Mass, Bishop Bogaforo presented 6 pilgrim statues of Mediatrix to be brought all over the Philippines and even Europe to propagate the devotion to Mary. The statues were blessed by Archbishop Arguelles and Cardinal Vidal.
The September 12 event was preceded by the opening of the Marian Exhibit last September 7 at the Bishop Alfredo Obviar Museum. This featured various antique and unique Marian statues including Taal’s Our Lady of Caysasay, and other statues from Bulacan and Laguna. The museum, taken cared of by art patron Danny Dolor, was open to the public from Sept. 8 to Sept. 15, free of charge.
A triduum which had international rosary and masses in English and Latin was held from Sept. 9, 10, 11, participated in by the faithful of the seven vicariates of the archdiocese. Twenty-four hour vigils in honor of the Blessed Sacrament were held at the Center for Peace, near Carmel Church, led by the various parish chapters of Adoracion Nocturna and Apostleship of Prayer. /lcd
