• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The pilgrim image of Our Lady of Guadalupe will arrive in Bacolod City on Aug. 22 and will stay at the San Sebastian Cathedral for a whole day veneration on Aug. 23, the Bacolod Diocesan Commission on Liturgy said.
The pilgrim image from Mexico arrived in Dumaguete City Aug. 15 and will stay at the Dumaguete Cathedral until Aug. 18.
Bishop Julito Cortes of the Diocese of Dumaguete said the visit of the pilgrim image “is a special grace for our Diocese as it is a blessed opportunity for us to participate in the national celebrations leading to the 2031 Jubilee.”
From Dumaguete, the image will visit the Diocese of San Carlos from Aug. 18 to 21, the Diocesan Social Communications Ministry-San Carlos said and urged the faithful to take part in various activities prepared throughout the pilgrimage, including Holy Masses, catechesis, procession, and opportunities for public veneration in San Carlos City and Cadiz City.
The pilgrim image will then be escorted to the Diocese of Bacolod, arriving at the Our Lady of Victory Parish in Victorias at 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 21, and to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Valladolid, where it will stay the night.
On Aug. 22, there will be a solemn procession of the icon of the Our Lady and the Portrait of Juan Diego, as well as a Eucharistic celebration, highlighted by the anointing of the blessed oil and laying of the tilma, before departing for the San Sebastian Cathedral at 1 p.m.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines earlier said the pilgrim image’s visit to various churches in the Philippines marks a key event ahead of the 500th anniversary of the Marian apparitions, and supports national participation in celebrations leading to the 2031 jubilee. | CGC
