Immaculate Conception Parish Celebrates 55th Year Founding Anniversary

Last November 27, 2019 at four in the afternoon, the parishioners and benefactors of the Immaculate Conception Parish in the Pilgrim City of Naga, witnessed the Solemn Rite of Blessing, Consecration of the Altar and Rededication of the Parish Church. The blessing included the Chapel of Christ, Adoration Chapel, Sacristy and Conference Rooms. The Church was fully renovated with the altar having a new Retablo, Altar table and lecterns. The faithful of the parish witnessed the unveiling of the marker at the entrance of the church before the doors opened to welcome all who came that afternoon. The Eucharistic Celebration was presided over by His Excellency Archbishop Rolando Tria-Tirona. In his homily, he stressed that building a lovely dwelling place for the Lord transforms an ordinary crowd into a community. Fr. Domingo Florida, parish priest of the said parish shared the fact that the newly renovated church is a fruit of the people’s effort. Coming from different social strata, everyone did their own share in building God’s home in the community of believers.

Two days later, the parish started the Novenary Masses in honor of its Patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title Immaculate Conception. The nine-day daily masses were presided by pastors who were once Parochial Vicars of the parish. The Bisperas mass was celebrated by Bishop Rex Andrew Alarcon of the Diocese of Daet, Cam Norte. A Marian procession followed the mass.

On December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the same community witnessed the Episcopal Coronation and Enthronement of the original image of La Purisma Concepcion Pequeña as the official image of the parish. Assisting the Archbishop in crowning the image was Vice President Ma. Leonora Robredo, a parishioner of the Immaculate Conception Parish. Also present were: Congressman Gabriel Bordado, Mayor Nelson Legacion, Hermana Mayor Rosie Lo and Joanne Rocha, the later represented by Arch Mirabel Tan who led a group of architects during the renovation stage. PPC Chairperson Engr Fe Melinda Cu and Executive Officer of the Jubilee Committee Dr. Ma. Asuncion Prieto-Quimlat were present to assist in the crowning, while Hermanos Manuel Lo and Dr Mariano as well as Vice Chairperson Allen Reondanga and Vocation Coordinator Mellard Japson carried the crowned image to its final place in the altar.

The parish was founded in December 8, 1964. Since then, there have been 7 parish priests, the first of whom was Fr Alfonso Grageda. The church was first renovated after its 25th founding anniversary during the term of the late Msgr Juan Alarcon. The succeeding parish priests, now Bishop Jose Rojas of the Diocese of Libmanan built the Pastoral Center while his successor, Fr Mario Gaite built the Dome of the Twelve Apostles.

The Executive Committee started to drumbeat the celebration in December 2018. At the start of the year 2019, different groups in the parish spearheaded monthly activities to address the needs of the different sectors. January saw the Jubilee celebration of the Feast of the Sto Nino, the secondary titular of the parish. February’s PREXtahan marked the revival of the Formation Seminar while the Lenten Pilgrimage set the tone for a spiritual journey appropriate for the season. The Youth Camp initiated by the Parish Youth Ministry highlighted the month of April while May was devoted to Mental Health, Marian Flores and Santacruzan. The parish also hosted the Gilean Ministry’s Paralympics for our Differently Abled persons. June was dedicated to assisting school children in their school supply needs while July was capped by the surgical mission tagged Operasyon nin Pagkamoot. The rest of the sectors given priority in the succeeding months were: August for Young Professionals, September for the Family, October for Gender Sensitivity and November for Senior Citizens. The parish will continue to serve the needs of its parishioners in the next years through the continuous building of Basic Ecclesial Communities.

Solemn Rite of Episcopal Coronation and Enthronement of La Purisima Concepcion Pequeña de Naga at the Immaculate Conception Parish, Naga City. Leading the Rites is Most Rev. Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD, DD., Archbishop of Caceres with Fr Domingo Florida, the Parish Priest. Also present during the event is VP Leni Robredo. Archdiocese of Caceres Fbpage