austraLasia #3324
Don Bosco's Madonna Debuts in Grand Marian Procession, Manila
MANILA: 4 December 2013 -- Mary Help of Christians joined the Grand Marian Procession in Manila on December 1, 2013 for the very first time. The annual festivity which began on December 8, 1619 is held in Intramuros, the historic centuries-old walled city of Manila. The activity was suspended during World War II and was later revived in 1980 every first Sunday of Advent. It is organized by the Cofradia de la Immaculada Concepcion Foundation and the Intramuros Administration:
More than one hundred titles of Mary were part of the procession. Many of these were centuries-old and come from important Marian centres in the Philippines, which use this opportunity to promote and express their devotion to one or other title of Our Lady.
The National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Parañaque, headed by Fr. Vitaliano Dimaranan, SDB, Rector and Head of Marian Promotions, actively promoted the devotion by participating in the procession for the first time. The devotees of the Diocesan Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Canlubang (south of Manila) were also present. It was a big blessing for the Salesian Family when they joined the procession because more than 400 Salesians, members of the Salesian Family, alumni, students from different Salesian Schools, Salesian aspirants and prenovices, students, youth organizations and parishioners were present to express their devotion to Mary Help of Christians.
They followed the Mary Help of Christians float during the long procession, in support of her ‘debut’ to this yearly ‘extravaganza’ of Marian faith. Banners of St John Bosco also followed, along with a marching band from the City of Mandaluyong where the owner of the statue, Mr. Nolan Angeles, is an alumnus of the Salesian school there.
The statue of Mary Help of Christians was singled out among the other statues when it stopped in front of the Manila Cathedral where dignitaries and guests were seated. Our Lady was given a special garland made from the national flower, the ‘sampaguita’, by His Grace Archbishop Charles Bo, Salesian Archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar, who was the guest of honor for the occasion.
Devotion to Mary Help of Christians came to the Philippines even before the formal opening of the first Salesian works in 1951. It was propagated by the late Salesian Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Guillermo Piani. We can also say that the Archconfraternity of MHC, ADMA, came before the SDBs.
Don Bosco's Madonna Debuts in Grand Marian Procession, Manila
MANILA: 4 December 2013 -- Mary Help of Christians joined the Grand Marian Procession in Manila on December 1, 2013 for the very first time. The annual festivity which began on December 8, 1619 is held in Intramuros, the historic centuries-old walled city of Manila. The activity was suspended during World War II and was later revived in 1980 every first Sunday of Advent. It is organized by the Cofradia de la Immaculada Concepcion Foundation and the Intramuros Administration:
More than one hundred titles of Mary were part of the procession. Many of these were centuries-old and come from important Marian centres in the Philippines, which use this opportunity to promote and express their devotion to one or other title of Our Lady.
The National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Parañaque, headed by Fr. Vitaliano Dimaranan, SDB, Rector and Head of Marian Promotions, actively promoted the devotion by participating in the procession for the first time. The devotees of the Diocesan Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Canlubang (south of Manila) were also present. It was a big blessing for the Salesian Family when they joined the procession because more than 400 Salesians, members of the Salesian Family, alumni, students from different Salesian Schools, Salesian aspirants and prenovices, students, youth organizations and parishioners were present to express their devotion to Mary Help of Christians.
They followed the Mary Help of Christians float during the long procession, in support of her ‘debut’ to this yearly ‘extravaganza’ of Marian faith. Banners of St John Bosco also followed, along with a marching band from the City of Mandaluyong where the owner of the statue, Mr. Nolan Angeles, is an alumnus of the Salesian school there.
The statue of Mary Help of Christians was singled out among the other statues when it stopped in front of the Manila Cathedral where dignitaries and guests were seated. Our Lady was given a special garland made from the national flower, the ‘sampaguita’, by His Grace Archbishop Charles Bo, Salesian Archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar, who was the guest of honor for the occasion.
Devotion to Mary Help of Christians came to the Philippines even before the formal opening of the first Salesian works in 1951. It was propagated by the late Salesian Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Guillermo Piani. We can also say that the Archconfraternity of MHC, ADMA, came before the SDBs.
