Florida Catholic | Virgin Of Antipolo Celebration: A Gift To The Orlando Diocese

Virgin of Antipolo: a gift to the Orlando Diocese

The popular Filipino devotion to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, popularly known as the Virgin of Antipolo, will take place July 27 at the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe.

JENNIFER POWERS | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 07.14.08

ORLANDO | The Filipino community will share a gift of faith July 27 with others in the Diocese of Orlando: the celebration of the Virgin of Antipolo, beginning at 2 p.m. at the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe.

“As Filipinos,” said Father Roy Eco of St. Teresa Parish in Titusville, “we are migrants bearing gifts to this country. The essential gift we bring is faith in God embedded in our culture.”

A processional of colorful banners, people in native dress and first holy communicants will accompany an image of the Virgin of Antipolo to the Mass celebrated by Bishop Thomas Wenski and concelebrated by the Filipino priests of the diocese.

In 2004 Bishop Wenski urged the Filipino community to bring this feast to the Orlando Diocese. The diocese saw its first pilgrimage and eucharistic celebration of the Feast of the Virgin of Antipolo July 23, 2005.

The devotion to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, popularly known as the Virgin of Antipolo (Birhen ng Antipolo in Tagalog), dates back to the Spanish era in the 1600s. Each May in the Philippines, thousands of pilgrims travel to pay homage to the Virgin of Antipolo. Here in the United States, the Virgin of Antipolo has become a symbol Filipino-American faith and devotion to the Blessed Mother.

“We are deeply honored by the presence of all peoples of God called to worship together in word, song, traditional gestures, ritual movements, native and indigenous clothing, and processions” said Father Eco, whose committee is in charge of planning this year’s festivities. “All are welcome,” he said.

Prayer to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Virgin of Antipolo

O Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, Virgin of Antipolo, look kindly upon the needs of your children, as we journey to our home in heaven. For you, O Mother, know full well what it is to travel on the road.

From that room in Nazareth where you received the joyful news from the angel Gabriel, you taught us the generosity of a Christian obedience that surrenders and entrusts all to Divine Providence.

In your journey to that stable in Bethlehem on that first Christmas night, you taught us how to treasure in our hearts the overwhelming graciousness of Our Father.

In your flight to Egypt with your newborn, you taught us the quiet courage that springs from a firm faith in God, even in the face of great danger and suffering.

In that sorrowful climb up to Calvary on that fateful Friday afternoon, you taught us how a human love can rise to greater heights by self–giving and forgiveness when transformed and united to ineffable Divine Love.

O Mother, you give us so much hope and encouragement by your example of filial love and discipleship. As you accompanied Christ in your journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, from Egypt to Galilee and finally to Calvary, you discovered the loving presence of God in ever new ways.

O Mother, as we undertake our own journey on this road, accompany us in our discovery of God in our lives and in the lives of other people. Make us see him with the eyes of our hearts, and help us to know Him and to grow deeper in His love through life’s joys and pains. And at our journey’s end, lead us to the doorsteps of heaven and bring us to your Son Jesus who has secured and prepared for us a place in our Father’s home.

Amen.

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Virgin of Antipolo: a gift to the Orlando Diocese

Prayer to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Virgin of Antipolo

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