Our Lady of Peñafrancia Parish Celebrates its 45th Foundation Anniversary
The month-long celebration of the 45th Foundation Anniversary of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Parish culminated last Sunday, October 28, with the fiesta mass as its highlight.
The homily of Rev. Fr. Rex Alarcon, the main celebrant, focused on the Parish’s pastoral theme which is “a renewed community, imitating Mary’s humble service.” He emphasized that humble service entails the availability, intentionality, and accountability of every member of the Parish.
In his message, Rev. Fr. Rey Jose F. Rellora, the Parish Priest, exhorted that becoming members of the Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) in the Parish will greatly contribute to the attainment of the pastoral theme and of the Parish vision of “a participative community of the faithful rooted in God’s words and the sacrament for the service of the church inspired by Ina.” He added that through the BECs, the Parish is able to reach out and to bring the devotion to Ina, especially to those who are at the peripheries. BECs also helps the Parish identify those who need to receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and matrimony. At present, there are almost thirty prayer groups in the Parish that meet every week.
The canonical erection of the Parish on October 30, 1973, with then Auxiliary Bishop of Caceres, Most Rev. Concordia Ma. Sarte, DD., as its first Parish Priest, is commemorated every year with various activities. This year, on its 45th anniversary, the month-long celebration includes the pagsungko of the images of Our Lady of Peñafrancia and Divino Rostro to the different barangays, sitios, and schools within the Parish; novenary masses, procession of patron saints, and dawn processions; paralympics of persons with disability (PWD); celebration of Children’s Day; celebration of talents of the senior parishioners; parade of the members of the various Parish religious associations, ministries, and movements; friendly competitions which include cheerdance, dance sports, vocal solo, jingle writing, poster making, chess, scrabble, dart, quiz bee, kadang-kadang, and pokpok palayok. The Parish Pastoral Council, through the leadership of its chairperson, Mrs. Geraldine C. Alvina, assists the Parish Priest in making the celebration significant. (GCA)