By Cl. April Jerome Quinto, SDB

Parañaque City, the Philippines, 22 January 2019 — The pilgrim image of the miraculous and historical Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, more popularly known as Our Lady of Antipolo, arrived noontime in Don Bosco Center of Studies on the memorial of Blessed Laura Vicuña, the first day of the novena to Saint John Bosco.

The community of Seminaryo ng Don Bosco welcomed the image. The clerics carried Our Lady and accompanied her with Marian songs to their chapel. Sister Eppie Yago, Chairwoman of the National Shrine Ministry, shared the story of the pilgrim image. She gave a brief history and origin of the image and explained its religious, cultural, and historical importance. Ms Yago also gave an overview of the feasts they celebrate in Antipolo that are connected to the miracles attributed to Our Lady. Among the many celebrations is the yearly Alay Lakad every Holy Thursday.

The image continued it short journey to the chapel of Don Bosco Center of Studies. It paused briefly near the statue of Saint John Bosco where the Stephen Sandor Salesian Brothers' community serenaded her with a song. At the lobby before the entrance to the chapel, students, religious sisters, mostly novices from various congregations welcomed the image. They sang Immaculate Mother in their own language. The students of DBCS in small groups took turns in praying before Our Lady.

A Special Guest

The image came to DBCS at the request of Fr Juvelan Samia, SDB author of "Tayo na sa Antipolo: A Theo-dula of the Alay-Lakad sa Antipolo." The book will be launched on January 24, Feast of Saint Francis de Sales.

After the book launch, at around 5:30 pm, the image will be brought in procession to the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians for the monthly commemoration mass. Our Lady of Antipolo will stay in the MHC Shrine until January 28.

400 year-old Image

Our Lady's image first reached Philippine soil on June 18, 1628 from Acapulco, Mexico. Among the many titles accorded to this miraculous and historical image is "Auxilium Christianorum" according to the 1925 commemorative booklet entitled "Coronación Pontificia y Tercer Centenario de la Venida a Filipinas de la Virgen de Antipolo, Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje 1626-1926" put together by Fr. Miguel Saderra Mata SJ, et al. She is also honored as La Virgen de Montañesa and La Celestial Viajera del Pasig.

A video of coverage, recorded live, of the arrival of the image is available through the Facebook page of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, here.

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