Peñafrancia 2015‬

CELEBRATING THE FIESTA OF INA WITH OUR HEARTS

“She kept all these things in her heart.” (Lk. 2:51)


My brothers and sisters in Christ,

We dedicate September as the Month for INA, Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia, which is accentuated by the “one week long festivities”. With our love for INA, we claim as well the title of a “Pilgrim City” as Pueblo Amante de Maria. Now as we come here to pay homage to the Mother of the Lord with the theme: “Living out God’s Mercy and Compassion in the Year of the Poor”, what do we, devotees and pilgrims, do in celebrating this gift of devotion to INA?

As your Spiritual Father and devotee of our Ina, I would like to give the following reminders:

1. BE A PILGRIM. Come as a pilgrim and not solely as a tourist who seeks pleasures but one who desires to encounter the Lord’s presence in places, culture and people. A pilgrim therefore, would manifest his or her longing for a personal encounter with God through the devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

2. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING. (1 Thes 5:17). The month of September must not be viewed as a usual ‘busy week’ but as a ‘week for praying’ e.g. personal devotions, procession, receiving of sacraments and attendance to novena masses. Churches and other pilgrim sites are open for public and private manifestation of faith. We are urged during this month to adore the Lord through active participation in the Eucharist, be contrite to the sins committed, give thanks for all the blessings received and ask for continual assistance of INA, Nuestra Senora de Peñafrancia.

3. BE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF MARY. Our life as Catholic is in conformity with the message of the Gospel of Christ and God’s will. Moreover, as a result of our “family-orientedness”, we have INA, our Spiritual Mother who for the whole festivity, must be given due reverence and respect as we manifest our willingness to claim our titles as her sons and daughters.

We call on the special attention of the voyadores who are tasked as models of being Sons of INA, Our Lady of Penafrancia, to have a genuine expression of faith by having a good disposition before every procession such as, prayerful, vigilant and free from intoxication (of alcoholic beverages) so that we may audibly hear Christ who tells us, “Son, behold, your Mother” (Jn 19:27).

4. REVERE THE HOLY PLACES. Apart from the Church, the routes where the procession pass by e.g. Traslacion route – Francia to Cathedral, Cathedral to Danlugan and the Bicol River for the Fluvial procession are considered to be of the sacred places that facilitate the manifestation of the faith and therefore, avenues for public and private prayer.

5. DO GOOD AND DETEST EVIL. (1 Peter 3:11a). Our devotion to Ina must bring us to our growth as a person and as a community. We must promote common good – like offering food and water to pilgrims, helping maintain cleanliness and order in the city, and offering assistance to those who need them. Be cheerful givers and be agents of charity! The festivity is an avenue to impart graces and blessings with the preferential option for the poor. We must detest whatever is contrary to the true devotion to Mary like alcohol intoxication, violence, human trafficking, prostitution and commercialism. We encourage other sectors of our community, like Hotels and Transport sectors and tourism agents to help promote what is noble and good in this time of prayer and devotion.

And so, as we joyfully celebrate the Feast of Ina, Our Lady of Peñafrancia, we entrust ourselves under Her Manto to pray for us, help us, console us and deliver us from all harm. May the Maternal guidance of Ina be our strength as we continue our journey on the path to holiness.

Viva el Divino Rostro!

Viva la Virgen!


In Christ,


+ROLANDO J. TRIA TIRONA, O.C.D., D.D.

Archbishop of Caceres