News: As tradition has it, The First Saturday in September is celebrated at the shrine along with the feast of Our Lady of Penafrancia. Our friends in the Filipino community of greater Boston come and celebrate this feast with the Crusaders of Fatima. It is a great time of the Year and one of the biggest events we celebrate at the shrine. We start off with benediction at 8:oo am and at 9:00 am we will celebrate a beautiful mass followed by a rosary procession to cap off the 9 day novena to Our Lady of Penafrancia. Then everyone comes together for a wonderful lunch with some of the most delicious home made dishes ever made. We suggest bringing with your rosaries a big appetite, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the shrine. The Novena begins on August 29th.
The story of Our Lady of Peñafrancia began in Paris on September 4th, 1401 when Simon Vela was born. While born into a rich family he eventually gave all his riches to the church, charities, and the poor. Simon preferred to spend time in the church and one day lost consciousness while devoutly praying. He was awoken by a voice, telling him to travel to Peña de Francia (Rock of France) where he would find an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. For five years Simon traveled west when he came upon a hill in which he saw the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus in her arms. There, with the help of five men from a nearby town, he began to dig where she had directed, and on May 19th, 1434, they uncovered an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus. This devotion found its way to the Bicol Region of the Philippines. A decree granted by Bishop John Bernard McGinley in the name of the clergy and faithful of the then Diocese of Nueva Cáceres where veneration and profound piety is rendered to Our Lady of Peñafrancia is spread. Because of the abundant wonders and graces which the loving Mother has poured out upon the people of this area. The Blessed Mother is the “Woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head, a crown of twelve stars” (Rev. 12:1). According to St. Hippolytus, the Evangelist John, meant that the “twelve stars” refer to the Apostles by whom the Church was founded. The Aureola with Twelve Stars also crowned on Our Lady of Peñafrancia symbolizes her holiness and closeness with God. The aura of sanctity she radiates fills all her devotees in whatever town, city, or nation on earth. This inspires them to go, and brings with them this devotion that radiates light and fills the world overcoming the darkness that envelops it. Pope Pius XI, solemnly crowned the miraculous Image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia whom Bicolanos lovingly and endearingly call “Inâ”. At the time of the crowning the Diocese of Nueva Cáceres covered the whole Bicol Region as her jurisdiction, thus, by her coronation, Inâ became the Queen and Patroness of Bicol.
September 5th: First Friday Mass at 7:00 pm. Followed by all night Eucharistic Adoration. The sorrowful mysteries, chaplet of divine mercy will be recited. Rev. Richard Mwisheni S.M.A we preside at Mass.
September 6th: First Saturday Devotion at the shrine, starting at 9:00a.m with Holy Mass, Rosary, Confessions. Followed by brunch, come and enjoy as we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Penefrancia. Rev. Rodel Cervantes A.A will preside.
September 13th: Candlelight procession: With Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Candlelight Rosary procession, and Benediction. I hope you can join us. Rev. Emanuel Unachukwu will lead us. We start at 8pm.
September 20th: The Pro-life Mass at 10:30 am. Following Mass there will be a pro-life rosary followed by a talk. Rev. Joseph Akilo will preside.
