Increased attendance at Manaoag Church expected amid global crisis, Church official states

MANAOAG, Pangasinan — More Catholics were observed going to the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag to pray and reflect amid the ongoing crisis in different parts of the world, a church official said Tuesday.

Fr. Felix Legaspi III, O.P., Manaoag Minor Basilica spokesperson, said this was observed in the last Paschal Triduum or the last three days of Lent, which are Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.

"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.

Faith in God

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said the factor for celebrating the Marian event is not the absence or presence of a crisis but faith in God.

“It is our faith in God that motivates us,” the prelate said. "If crisis were the reason for not celebrating, then we would not celebrate at all, because there is always a crisis somewhere, sometime in the world.”

“No crisis can stop us from expressing our faith in God and love for Him,” Villegas added.

The priests were referring to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East that prompted consecutive oil price hikes in the country, as the war disrupted the shipment of petroleum products through the Strait of Hormuz, which is considered one of the world’s most crucial oil export routes.

On Tuesday, Iran said critical infrastructure, including two bridges, was struck by the United States and Israel, with US President Donald Trump warning "a whole civilisation will die" if a midnight deadline for a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz was not met.

In the Philippines this week, gasoline prices went up again by up to P5.90 per liter, diesel by up to P19.80 per liter, and kerosene by P9.10 per liter.

Online platforms

For those who are unable to come to Manaoag in Pangasinan for the Marian event, procession coordinator Fr. Jerome Geronimo O.P. said they may participate via official online platforms, as Novena prayers and Eucharistic celebrations are livestreamed.

“So para po sa mga hindi makakapunta (for those who cannot attend) because of their circumstances, they are very welcome to participate. Punta lang po tayo sa page ng (just go to the official social media page of the) Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag," Geronimo said.

“At siguro, on the personal note na rin, dahil ang Our Lady of the Rosary ang Manaoag ay rosary, on their own personal time, they can really feel the devotion, the significance of this activity. Tapos siguro, puwede nilang i-allow yung mga kasama nilang magdasal ng rosary while they're watching the livestream po,” he added.

(And perhaps, on a more personal note, since Manaoag is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, they can, in their own time, truly feel the devotion and the significance of this activity. They may also invite those with them to pray the Rosary while they are watching the livestream.) — BAP, GMA News