Procession

September 16, 2011—MS Tegethoff, Bratislava

9th Penafrancia Fluvial

Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, religious festivals in the Philippines.

The festival of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia is celebrated in mid September in Naga City, Camarines Sur. The popular and intense devotion to this im-age is said to have started with a seminarian from the University of Sto. Tomas, named Miguel Robles de Covarrubias who, when he was invited by the 17th century Bishop of Nueva Caceres City, experienced and received many blessings and miracles from the Lady of Peñiafrancia. Covarrubias was ordained priest, he was assigned to Nueva Caceres and was appointed Vicar General of the Bishopric of Nueva Caceres. In gratitude maybe for his fortune with the Lady of Peñafrancia and at the same time, since he was then an official of Diocesan Chancery of Nueva Caceres, Covar-rubias promoted and propagated the devotion to our Lady of Peñafrancia, himself becoming involved personally in the celebrations. His efforts and those priests after him paid off for the yearly traditional feastday of the Lady of Peñafrancia which usually falls on the third Saturday and Sunday of September, galva-nized the collective piety of the Bicolanos into one united annual celebration which was highlighted by a water or fluvial procession by various groups of able-bodied men and devotees around the circui-tous streets of Naga City, and then along the major route of Naga River, back to her shrine.

The Bicolanos, lofty forebears of the Ivatans, were observed and recorded through the centuries of Spanish period to have become one of the most devoted and pious Filipinos among its numerous regions. The evangelization of the provinces seemed perfectly matched with the number of conversions to the Catholic fold, for statistics at the turn of the twentieth century showed the Bicolanos’ total profes-sion of the Catholic Faith. In Catanduanes, the gem pure-province at the tip of the Bicol peninsula registered an al-most 99% Catholic population as recent as the l980’s.

The seat of the Archdiocese of Caceres is located in Naga City, she is the initiator of significant religious festivities that evolved from the simple devotional activity set by Fr. Covarrubias to a regional major religious fiesta. On 2010, the archdiocese celebrates the 300th year of devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia as she continues to be the Queen and Mother of the Bicolanos. This is attested through the count-less testimonies of people, devotees and ordinary churchgo-ers, of having been recipients of the miracles of Our Lady of Peñafrancia which has greatly impressed the devotion upon the people year after year.

The yearly “Feast of feasts” begins with a “Traslacion", i.e. the transferring of the miraculous Images of the Virgin, Our Lady of Peñafrancia and the Divine Rostro to the Metropoli-tan Cathedral of Naga City for a Novena of Prayers and Holy Masses.

The "Traslacion" which be-gun in 1885, is considered to be a very important part of the celebration, not to say festive and colourful. The "andas" of the Lady is borne on the on the shoulders of her male devotees, called the voyadores, all along the route of the procession.

In the afternoon of the 9th day of the Novena, a fluvial procession in the Naga River caps the feast. The image of Our Lady is returned to her sanctuary via the Naga Riv-er, on board a pagoda deco-rated with fresh flowers and colourful papers, accompa-nied by musicians, the reli-gious, priests and seminari-ans, as the pagoda maneu-

vers, other bancas manned by boatmen and male devotees sail along with it until the land-ing site, where by tradition, the Archbishop of Nueva Ca-ceres meets the Images and leads them to the Basilica Mi-nore of Our Lady of Peñafrancia for a solemn concelebrated Pontificial Mass.

To the unexposed and than religious, the sight of the Pago-da, being escorted by hundreds of men and thousand more following its ascent while both sides of the Nagel River are filled with devotees waving their handkerchiefs and shout-ing “Viva la Virgen!”, may seem strange, and the veneration fever, seemingly too emotional, almost pagan. Nobody can explain the intensity of feelings for Our Lady of Peñafrancia during the week of her feast day, except to ac-cept, and accept obediently that it is pure love of the Blessed Virgin Mother, in the Image of Our Lady of Pe-ñafrancia which has made her devotees keep up their yearly “panata", people like to believe with little explanation that certainly, a devotee returns because almost always, Our La-dy returns the favour of the petitioner.

Today, the Peñafrancia Basilica and National Shrine at Bala-tas, Naga City, is the "Home" and permanent residence of the venerable original Image of the Lady of Peñafrancia, and the Divino Rostro, which were previously kept in the Shrine of Peñafrancia, located at Peñafrancia Avenue, Naga City. This original Shrine of Our is now a parish dedicated to Our Lady of Peñafrancia and has the replica of the original Im-age of Ina.

This text is an excerpt of the Introduction that can be found in the booklet

"NOVENA to the VIRGIN OF PEÑAFRANCIA". The booklet is freely distrib-

uted during the processions.

Brief History of Our Lady of Peñafrancia

M E S S A G E

T his year‘s FIESTA for Bicolanos INA, Neustra Sen ora de Pen afrancia was

a grace-filled occasion. I would like to thank the BICOL SOCIETY- AUSTRIA for giving me

the chance for the first time as a priest to celebrate with you.

One with you in prayer!

Mag. P. Edwin Reyes SVD

M E S S A G E To the Devotees of Our Lady of Peñafrancia,

The community of Bicol is again teeming with life since in a few days time we will celebrate the feast of our beloved patroness, The Our Lady of Pen afrancia. Every year thousands of devotees swarm to Bicol to join the fluvial parade in honor of our "INA". What a spectacular sight to see thousands of devotees singing hymns in honor of our Lady. Some people are on their knees praying. Many of them are even on the verge of tears. We cannot but be in awe at the religiosity of Bicolanos.

We, in Vienna, are no exception to the grandeur of the event. We find ways in order to celebrate this feast meaningfully. We seek expression for our deep love and devotion to the Blessed Mother. But how can we truly say that our devotion to our mother is really authentic? That it really touches the core of our hearts and not just plain sentimentality? How can we gauge that it is real and not just simply grandstanding?

We listen to the wisdom of the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council who wrote in Gaudium et Spes that devotion is "IMITATION". All the preparations, all the excitement it brings are of naught if we fail to imitate the life of Mary. Everything will just be fanfare, all for the show if we fail to live out and imitate the values of Mary. Let this event become not just a one day celebration but a whole year liv-ing out of our faith in God through Mary. Let the virgin of Pen afrancia be our model for Christian liv-ing— a kind of life devoted to the Father, a life always seeking the will of the One who loves us. Let us not waste this event in just focusing on the externals. Let us become true children of our "mahal niamong Ina" by being like her in her dedication to her Son, Jesus.

Dios mabalos!!!

Fr. Ely Dalanon

Fr. Cyril Villareal

Fr. Bernie Alejo

Bikol Society—Austria

MESSAGE

Our faith in our „Ina“, the Patroness of the Bicol Region has always been our companion in facing the struggles of everyday life. So many times we run to Her for comfort, for help especially during hard times,when hope seems nowhere, when things seem hopeless. Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but certainty that something make sense, regardless of how it turns out. It is this faith that gives us enough light, it is building on what we know. „Hope is the thing

with feathers that perches in the soul of everyone. . .“

For the Bikolanos, our „Ina“ is our strength. We deeply believe that with Her intercession, things will work out right, and this will give radiance to everything! We continually show our adoration and devotion to the Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia; this could be testified by the growing number of devotees who joined every year`s

Fluvial Procession. It has already become a tradition, a „panata“, a devotion . . .

The Bikol Society (Austria) will continuously spearhead the yearly celebration of the feast of our Nurstra Senora de Penafrancia. With the assistance of the Filipino Catholic Chaplaincy, we will be able to propagate the devotion to our „Ina“ and likewise make this festivity unforgetable and memorable to all the devotees. It is not an easy task but as long as there are people whose faith and devotion are unmeasurable, as long as there are people who are willing to help, share and assist us

unselfishly, then for sure we will always succeed.

I wish to thank all the officers of the Bikol Society (Austria), the Hermano/Hermana Mayor 2011, the Filipino Catholic Chaplaincy and all the members and devotees for their trust and unending help and assistance to the success of every

Penafrancia celebration.

Dios Mabalos po!

(Sgd.) Malou Morata

BSA President

MENSAHE Mga kababayan kong bicolano's y bicolana's,mga besita's nagagalak ako sa

matagumpay na naidaos ang kafiestahan ng ating patrona.(Nuestra Senyora De

Penafrancia at El Deveno Rostro) Natapwat ika siyam ng taon ang Fluvial

Procession sa sikap ng grupong Bicol Society in Austria(BSA)naitaguyod ng

grupong matuwid at tahimik na celebrasyon.

Sa tulong ng panginoon at mahal na Ina patuloy tayong ginagabayan saang man

lugar ganapin ang fiesta Sta mesa. Mga kababayan kong mayroon

pananampalataya sa Inang Virgen at sa anak niyang si Hesus suportahan natin ang

grupong ito (BSA) para patuloy na naitaguyod ang Tradition na ito hanggang sa darating pang

generasyon.

Viva La Virgen de Penafrancia, Viva El Divino Rostro!!!

May God Bless Us!!

Dios Mabalos Saindo Gabos!

Nimfa Pante

Hermana Mayor 2011

M E S S AG E VIVA LA VIRGEN ! VIVA NUESTRA SENIORA DE PENIAFRANCIA ! As we all

shout to high heavens to praise our "INA".

We gather around every September to celebrate the feast of our Lady of

Peniafrancia, to

show our strong devotion and loyalty to our Heavenly "INA"- Mother. Not only

us,

Bicolanos, but other devotees came and joined the celebration of the feast day of our

"Ina".

We Filipinos and pilgrims around Austria pay homage; either you are devotees or ordinary

churchgoers. I have to say that we should not only come to enjoy the feast but pray, give

praise and be thankful for whatever blessing / miracles we have received and / or may ask

for.

I sincerely hope that everyone who came to the Feast of our" Our Lady of Peniafrancia"

has expressed their devotion, appreciation and remembered Her gracious and abundant Love.

My warmest Thanks and appreciation to all who have helped me. A big thanks to all who

came to the feast. May our loyalty and faith to " INA " guide and protect us.

Arnel Infante

Hermano Mayor 2011

PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES Peñafrancia 2011 Celebration

Sept. 9 – 16, 2011 6:00 p.m. Novena and Mass to our Lady of Pen afrancia

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish

Stefan Fadinger Paltz 1, A-1100 Wien

Sept. 17, 2011-09-11 Penafrancia Fluvial Procession— 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. on board MS Admiral Tegetthoff sailing along the Danube River to St. Martin Cathedral in Bratislava. Meeting point : DDSG Blue Danube Schiffahrt Zentrum, Handelskai 265, A-1020 Wien

9:30 a.m. 9th day Novena to our Lady of Peñafrancia

Programme (Part I )

Opening Remarks

Introduction of the Guest Speaker

Message from H.E. Miniter Charlie Manangan

Induction of the New set of Officers

Lunch

12:30 p.m. Procession from hafen to St. Martin Cathedral

1:00 p.m. Concelebrated Mass Fr. Edwin Reyes, Fr. Ely , Fr. Jojo and Fr. Bong

St. Martin Cathedral

2:30 p.m. Free time fort he guests and devotees

3:30 p.m. Assembly at St. Martin Cathedral/ Procession back to the ship

4:00 p.m. Ship depart for Vienna

5:00 p.m. Programme ( Part II )

Message : Hermano Mayor 2011

Intermission Number

Inspirational Message : Fr. Edwin Reyes

Intermission Number – Greeze Lightning Dancers

Message : Fr. Ely Dalanon, Spiritual Adviser and FCC Chaplain

Surprise Number – Bryna, Sarah and Friend

Turn-over of the keys of responsibility

Intermission Number – Dollie and the Zumba girls

Tombola draw

Closing Remarks – Hermana Mayor 2011

Dinner and Dance

September 18, 2011 11:00 a.m. Concelebrated Mass/Thanksgiving Mass

Our Lady of Pen afrancia

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish

Stefan Fadinger Platz 1, A-1100 Wien

A G A P E

Nimfa Pante

Hermana Mayor

2011

Arnel Infante

Hermano Mayor

2011

Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi, Archbishop of Caceres Rev. Msgr. Tibor Hajdu, Director St. Martin Cathedral, Bratislava Fr. Ely Dalanon, Parish Priest, Filipino Catholic Community Fr. Cyril Villareal, Asst. Parish Priest, Filipino Catholic Community Fr. Bernie Alejo, Asst. Parish Priest, Filipino Catholic Community Fr. Edwin Reyes, SVD H. E. Lourdes O. Parraguirre, Philippine Ambassador Antonia Bosa, Cultural Attache, Philippine Embassy Mayor John Bongat, Mayor, Naga City Consuls and Personnel of the Philippine Embassy City Officials and people of Bratislava DDSG Blue Danube Schiffart GmbH Kabayan Tel DMCI Patrick Cruz Cruz, PBC/PNB Ramon Reyes and Family Evelyn Tagle and Ms. Malou Morata Adel Calanog, ( TFC, Globe, Vista Residences, Azure Homes, Smart , Camilla Homes and Communities, Century Properties) MS Marriage Spirituality FCC Choir Filipino Catholic Community Choir CFAA Council of Filipino Association in Austria Ronnie Castillo Tess Ocfemia and Joel Rojas Blue Cargo Lorna`s Friseur Saloon Loreta de Leon Vangie Wolf and family Steve Bonganay & Family Mr. & Mrs. Rolando Mercado & Family Sidney, Eden Soloria & Family Mr. & Mrs Bong Bukid & Family The Lechon Bestowers The Tombola Prizes Conferrers Followers of the Good Shepherd Handmaids & CFC FFL El Shaddai Legion of Mary Divine Mercy Group

Handmaids of the Lord Mag. Hector Pascua Mr. & Mrs. Andy Anastacio & Family Ms. Nimfa Pante Mrs. Nedy Castro Dollie and Ric Gallardo Cely Caraet Milea Milana Sarah Rojas Bryna Decena GABRIELE DISCO—Mrs. Carolin- Antoinette Protzner- Cadiena KING’S Jean Bayta Angel de Guzman Malou Santos of Asian Bake Shop Ochie Villaruz Adel Medollar and Family Mrs. Mila Peischel Toto and Maribel Nimfa de Leon Arnel Infante and Family Circulo Caviteno in Austria Villaruz, Uchi and Family Yocampo Family Wolf Family Edsel Angeles and Rincoda Group Lito Decena Ulli Schilder APA Philippine Nurses Association (Austria), First Aiders

Bikol Society (Austria ) officers and

Members Penafrancia Celebration 2011 organizers and working Committee People who continously support BSA activities and projects and all those who in one way or another extend their support and assistance in all the Penafrancia activities…..

MARAMING MARAMING SALAMAT PO !!! DI-OS MABALOS SA INDO GABOS !!! A MILLION THANKS !!! DANKE, DANKE , DANKE !!!

Acknowledgment The Filipino Catholic Chaplaincy in Vienna, Bikol Society ( Austria ) and Peñafrancia 2011 Committee, extend pro-found appreciation and sincere thanks to the following people, reli-gious groups , organizations, sponsors, individuals, enterprises and establishments for their support and assistance to the Peñafrancia 2011 Celebration .

Bikol Society in Austria

Viva Penafrancia!

from Lorna‘s Hair Saloon

Viva la Nuestra Senora de

Penafrancia

Vangie, Frances, Alfie and Bernhard

Happy Penafrancia Celebration!

from Vicky and Rolly Mercado

Lucky Tours

Franzensbrueckenstr. 19, A-1020 Wien

Tel. 01/2143947—Fax. 01/2164363

E-mail: uruvatin@luckytours.at

More power to the Bikol Society (Austria) on the

celebration of the Annual Penafrancia Fluvial

Procession

VIVA LA VIRGEN!

Evelyn Tagle , Malou Morata & Nedy Castro

Wilhelmstrasse 43 1120 Wien 01 9139031

office@matha-asia.com www.matha-asia.com

Greetings from

Malou Santos

Viva la Virgen!!!

Angel de Guzman

Viva Nuestra Senora

de Penafrancia!

Happy Penafrancia Celebration

Viva la Virgen!

from Ramon and Evelyn REYES

Happy

Penafrancia

Fiesta!

greetings from:

Loreta de

Leon

Viva la Virgen!

Sunshine Hairsalon c/o Lita Santos & Family

Lechon bestowers

Sidney Soloria Steve Bongayon Bong Buguid

Nimfa Pante Arnel Infante Elmer & Ellen Blanco

Other Lechon Donors: Lou Backis, Marc Magat, Ningning Magat & Evelyn Dingding