Catholic Outlook October 2015

DIOCESAN NEWS
Celebration of Our Lady of Peñafrancia
on the Nepean River
By Elizabeth McFarlane
Australian Devotees of Our Lady of Peñafrancia (ADOLP).
The fluvial procession on the Nepean River. Photos: Elizabeth McFarlane.
An image of Mother Mary adorned
with a shining gold dress and
enveloped by yellow and white
flowers, devoutly and endearingly
called “Ina”, was lifted above the mass of
Filipino devotees who came to Penrith
on Saturday 19 September to celebrate
the 10th anniversary of the Feast Day of
Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Australia.
The festivity is an avenue for devotees
to seek blessings and graces for the poor
and for personal intentions, following
this year’s theme, “Living the Faith –
Empowering the Poor”.
The Australian Devotees of Our Lady
of Peñafrancia (ADOLP) was founded
in 2005 by Jun Relunia, President, Neria
Soliman, Vice President, and Josie Musa,
Secretary, under the guidance of the
Basilica in Naga City, Philippines, and
the Filipino Chaplaincy of the Diocese
of Parramatta.
The growing devotion to Ina started
in 1434, when Simon Vela found
an image of Our Lady in Peña de
Francia in Salamanca, Spain. In 1710,
the celebration was brought to the
Philippines.
Millions turn out every year for
the Marian Pilgrimage in Naga City to
celebrate the Principal Patroness and
Queen of Bicol, making it one of the
biggest religious celebrations in the
Philippines.
Solemn observance of the Feast Day
at St Nicholas of Myra in Penrith began
with the Holy Rosary, Novena to Divino
Rostro, and Novena to Our Lady of
Peñafrancia, followed by Mass, which
was celebrated by Fr Mathew Antony
MS and concelebrated with other priests
from the Diocese.
A parade of colour pervaded the
Church and later, the Nepean River, as
followers cheered back and forth, “Viva
La Virgen – Viva!” and proceeded to
the Fluvial Procession. The image of Ina
was hoisted onto a boat, decorated with
banners, flowers, and orange material,
and followed by devotees on the Nepean
Belle.
The Procession was followed by
lunch, with food stalls showcasing
a great variety of Filipino/Bicolano
dishes, the annual cake cutting, and
entertainment.
Norma Evans, the treasurer for
ADOLP, became a devotee after her
mother’s miraculous experience with
Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
“For a long time, my mother
couldn’t lift both her arms, as they
were paralysed. There was a procession
and every time the people said, ‘Viva’,
everybody lifted their hands. And my
mother was doing it subconsciously,
The image of "Ina" or Mother Mary.
until she got home and said, ‘Look! I can
raise my hands!’ This is why I am a firm
believer that Our Lady of Peñafrancia is
miraculous, but only if we believe, and I
think my mother did with all her heart,”
Norma reflected.
Devotees do not believe that the
image of Ina and the Divino Rostro
hold magical or divine powers, but
they believe that it is a channel of God's
graces.
For more images of the event, please
visit: www.flickr.com/parracatholic/
albums
4 CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015
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