Manaoag Church unveils Our Lady of Manaoag centennial theme, activities

MANAOAG, Pangasinan — The Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag has unveiled the theme for the 100th anniversary of the Marian image's canonical coronation, honoring the Blessed Mother and her call to the children of God.

The centennial theme, ‘Inan Maria: Crowned in Grace, Calling Us to Jesus,’ highlights the Pangasinense term of endearment for the Blessed Virgin, which is  ‘Mother Mary.’

Fr. Roberto Reyes, O.P., Manaoag Minor Basilica spokesperson, said the theme commemorates the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel told Mary she would bear Jesus in anticipation of her role as the Mother of God.

“Crowned as Queen of Heaven and Mother of the Church, she also intercedes for her children so that they may partake in the many graces that come from her Son, Jesus Christ,” Reyes told the media.

With the phrase "Calling us to Jesus," the centennial theme underscores Mary’s word at the wedding at Cana, where she instructed the servants to "do whatever Jesus tells you.”

It also pays tribute to the Marian image’s origin story, where the Blessed Mother appeared before a local farmer from a tree and gave instructions to build a church at that place so her children could ask for her supplication.

“The locals eventually came to refer to her as 'The Virgin who Calls,’ from which the name Our Lady of Manaoag is derived,” Reyes said.

The Manaoag Minor Basilica also announced the following activities for the centennial celebration:

• April 11 (6 p.m.) -  “Serenata sa Coronada” — A choral competition and concert in honor of Our Lady of Manaoag
• April 13-21 - Novena Masses at 5 a.m., 6 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m., and 4 p.m.
• April 21 (4 p.m.) - Rededication of the Church to be presided over by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas
• April 22 (9 a.m.) -  Enthronement and solemn reenactment of the Coronation and solemn Eucharistic celebration to be presided over by Archbishop Charles Brown, Papal nuncio to the Philippines
  (4 p.m.) - Pontifical Mass of the Canonical Coronation to be presided by Villegas, and the grand procession

Fr. Felix Legaspi III, O.P., Manaoag Minor Basilica rector, had said that more Catholics were observed visiting the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag to pray and reflect amid the ongoing crisis in different parts of the world

"So it seems that at times, the more crises that we have, the more that we have the longing to come to the Divine, to Our Lady, for courage and for help,” Legaspi said during a press conference for the 100th anniversary of the canonical coronation of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag.

“So I think there's a need for us to proceed with the celebration, not only because we are the ones deciding this event, but also because we receive a lot of support from the faithful themselves,” he added.

Up to two million devotees are expected to celebrate the Our Lady of Manaoag's canonical coronation, which took place on April 21, 1926.

Known as the Pistay Baley (Town Feast) or the Summer Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag. The novena leading up to the feast starts right after the Easter Octave.

The celebration falls on a Wednesday, which aligns with the tradition that Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag appeared 20 days after Easter Sunday.

The Dominicans now refer to the summer fiesta as the "Coronation Feast" of the Manaog Church, marking the anniversary of the Canonical Coronation in 1926. 
—RF, GMA News