Our Lady of Fatima
The International Pilgrim Virgin Statue (IPVS) of our Lady of Fatima will be given ‘Sugat-Silaynon’ reception when she arrives at the airport in Silay at 1:00 pm on January 15 (Sunday via Air Phil).
Mayor Jose Montelibano will lead devotees and Marian organizations with Bishop Vicente Navarra, Fr. Felix Pasquin, Marissa Montelibano, Ver Pacete and Susan Velez.
The image will be accompanied by Rev. Fr. Melvin P. Castro, founder and moderator of the Cofraternity of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace and Philippine representative of IPVS Foundation.
The statue was made by Jose Thedim, a sculptor in Cova de Iria, Portugal and was blessed by the bishop of Fatima on May 13, 1947 and was suggested by Sr. Lucia to be made as a pilgrim statue.
The official representatives of the Diocese of Bacolod to meet her at the arrival area of the airport are Modesto Saonoy, Mario Macainan, Louie del Corso, Bembi del Corro, Teodulfo Infante with tri media from Bacolod City.
Fr. Felix Pasquin of San Sebastian Parish said, “The pilgrim image who has never stopped traveling in its entire 54 years will always remind us that our life on earth is a pilgrimage.”
The image will pass by at the Birhen Sang Barangay Shrine – Silay where a brief liturgical service will be held with floral offering, reading of the Pilgrim’s Prayer, and a special prayer of the Holy Father for the peace in the world.
The motorcade spearheaded by a top-down vehicle carrying the Lady of Fatima image will proceed to San Diego Pro-Cathedral with devotees and parishioners lining up along Rizal and Zamora streets to welcome and be blessed. Coordinating for San Diego Parish is Thelma Quevenco.
Vesper and other sacred ceremonies will be administered by Rev. Fr. Abenir Pineda, parish priest of Silay, and he will be joined in by the different religious organizations and city officials.
Ver Pacete, tourism officer of Silay, said that the arrival of the pilgrim statue in Negros Occidental will boost religious tourism thus manifesting that tourism industry does not cater only to economic growth but also to the spiritual upliftment of the people in the community.
The image will pass by Talisay City and the caravan will move straight to our Lady of Fatima Church in Bacolod City. It will stay there from Sunday to Monday and on Monday morning, it will be brought to the cathedral.
Prepared by:
SUSAN VELEZ
Executive Assistant - Tourism
