Like the previous years, the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Manaoag, this year also we celebrated it with vigor and enthusiasm. The nine days of preparation with the Novena prayers began on the 30th of August, 2017. The evenings of the Novena Days were lively with the presence of the children, youth and elderly one. Each day of the Novena was sponsored by different devotees of Our Lady of Manaoag (our friends and benefactors, especially). On September 7th evening, after the Holy Mass, we had the Solemn Procession with the decorated statue of Our Lady of Manaoag carried around the campus of the monastery with hundreds of devotees holding a lighted candle each.
On the Solemn Feast Day of Our Lady of Manaoag – Corte, September 8th (Birthday of our Mother Mary), in the morning itself devotees were flowing into the Rosary Center. The Solemn Eucharistic Celebration began at 10 am as the Center was packed with faithful. The images of Our Lady of Manaoag, the altar, the sanctuary and the whole Rosary Center were filled with the aroma of the flowers that created a beautiful ambiance. Added to this, the beatific melody by the Our Lady of Manaoag Choir (Cebu City) helped the whole congregation participate in the Liturgical celebrations with feelings and deep devotion. After the Mass we had a short Rosary Procession along side of the Rosary Center. Some of the devotees were distributing some snacks and ice cream as their gratuitous offering for the favors received through the powerful intercession of Our Lady of Manaoag.
The congregation gathered started bidding goodbye to Mama Mary and to their co-devotees, with the feeling of spiritual nourishment and with the hope to gather together for the next year’s Fiesta celebration.
