Peñafrancia Festival of Naga City is one of the Philippines' largest religious celebrations honoring Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Bicol region's patroness. The festival begins on the second Friday of September when the image of the Virgin of Peñafrancia is carried by hundreds of male devotees from its shrine to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Naga City.
This year's highlights of the celebration are scheduled on: September 11 (Friday),Traslacion Procession; September 19 (Saturday), Fluvial Procession; and September 20 (Sunday), Feast Day of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES
This year's religious activities theme: Living Out God’s Mercy and Compassion in the Year of the Poor (Pagsabuhay kan Pagkaherak asin Pagmakulog kan Dios sa Taon nin mga Dukha)
September 1, Tuesday
5:00 pm: Mass & Procession of the Divino Rostro from Basilica to Penafrancia Parish Church with Caceres Clergy
(All Divino Rostro Novena Masses will be held at the Parish Church of Our Lady of Penafrancia)
September 2, Wednesday: DAY FOR THE FAMILIES AND THE LAITY
Theme: Family, foremost school of mercy and compassion
4:00 am: Penitential Procession and Pilgrimage (Pilgrims: Mater Salutis, Cararayan; Mt. Carmel, Carolina)
5:00 am: Novena Mass (Bikol)
8:30 am: Harubay (c/o Our Lady of Peñafrancia Association)
4:00 pm: Confessions
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) (Naga Parochial School; PCFC)
September 3, Thursday : DAY FOR THE YOUTH
Theme: Courage to be happy as poor of the Lord
4:00 am: Penitential Procession and Pilgrimage (Pilgrims: Tabuco; Gainza: Fil-Chinese Community –Fatima)
5:00 am: Novena Mass (Bikol)
4:00 pm: Confessions
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) (Naga College Foundation; Aeronautical Academy of the Philippines)
8:30 pm: Perdon Penitential Procession
September 4, Friday : DAY FOR EDUCATORS, TEACHERS, AND MEDIA PRACTITIONERS
Theme: Search for truth with faith and loving compassion
4:00 am: Penitential Procession and Pilgrimage (Pilgrims: Christ the King Parish, Palestina Pili CS )
5:00 am: Novena Mass (Bikol)
4:00 pm: Confessions
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) (Dept. Ed, Cam Sur National High School; STI; AMA Computer College)
8:00 pm: Alay ki Ina (Basilica c/o Oremos)
September 5, Saturday: DAY FOR THE CHILDREN
Theme: Symbols of the saving power of God’s mercy
4:00 am: Penitential Procession and Pilgrimage (Pilgrims: St. Jude Thaddeus; Immaculate Conception)
5:00 am: Novena Mass (Bikol)
7:00 am: Pontifical Mass & Installation of new OLPA members: Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona (Basilica)
4:00 pm: Confessions
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) (Mariners Polytechnic Colleges; Worldtech Resources Institute)
7:00 pm: Cofradía de San José Vigil (Basilica)
8:30 pm: Perdon Penitential Procession
September 6, Sunday : DAY FOR THE RELIGIOUS MEN AND WOMEN OF CACERES
Theme: Making Christ’s mercy and compassion visible in the world
4:00 am: Penitential Procession and Pilgrimage (Pilgrims: Religious Men & Women of Caceres)
5:00 am: Novena Mass (Bikol)
4:00 pm: Confessions
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) (University of Northeastern Philippines, Iriga City)
6:00 pm 3rd Penafrancia Short Film Awards Night (Avenue Hotel – the Tent)
September 7, Monday : DAY FOR THE SICK, THE ELDERLY AND HEALTH WORKERS
Theme: Overcoming the sense of uselessness of suffering through Christ’s compassion
4:00 am: Penitential Procession and Pilgrimage (Pilgrims: Cathedral & Lorenzo Ruiz, Abella)
5:00 am: Novena Mass (Bikol)
4:00 pm: Confessions
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) (University of St. Anthony; Computer Communications Institute)
8:30 pm: Perdon Penitential Procession
September 8, Tuesday : DAY FOR THE POOR AND PRISONERS
Theme: Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy
4:00 am: Penitential Procession and Pilgrimage (Pilgrims: San Francisco Parish, Naga City)
5:00 am: Novena Mass (Bikol)
4:00 pm: Confessions
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) (University of Nueva Caceres; BISCAST)
September 9, Wednesday : DAY FOR PRIESTS AND SEMINARIANS
Theme: Witnessing to the merciful compassion of the Good Shepherd
4:00 am: Penitential Procession and Pilgrimage (Pilgrims: Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Haring, Canaman)
5:00 am: Novena Mass (Bikol)
4:00 pm: Confessions
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) (Universidad de Sta. Isabel; Naga City Science High School)
September 10, Thursday : DAY FOR THE GOVERNMENT LEADERS AND WORKERS
Theme: Authentic human development according to Christ’s mercy and compassion
4:00 am: Penitential Procession and Pilgrimage (Pilgrims: St. Anthony of Padua, Camaligan)
5:00 am: Novena Mass (Bikol)
4:00 pm: Confessions
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) (AdeNU; Brentwood College of Asia International School)
September 11, Friday : FEAST OF THE DIVINO ROSTRO
Theme: Divino Rostro: The face of God’s mercy and compassion
4:00 am: Penitential Procession of the Image of INA from Basilica to Penafrancia Parish Church
Penitential Procession (Pilgrims from Parish of Our Lady of the Assumption, Canaman)
5:30 am: Blessing of the Castillo de Covarrubias
Pontifical Mass & Installation of new DIVOSTRA members: Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona
6:30 am: Community Mass (and every hour and a half thereafter)
NOVENA MASSES IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF PEÑAFRANCIA
Theme: Mater misericordiae, a challenge to a life of poverty
12:00 nn: Start of Traslacion Procession of Delegates from schools, institutions, and organizations
1 – 5 pm: Masses (Cathedral) and Confessions (Minor Seminary Arches)
2:00 pm: Community Mass at Plaza de Covarrubias
3:30 pm: TRASLACION PROCESSION
5:30 pm: Pontifical Mass (Quadricentennial Arch) Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona
7:00 pm: Community Mass (Cathedral)
September 12, Saturday : DAY FOR THE YOUTH
Theme: Compassionate love for the lost, the last and the least
3 – 7 pm: Confessions (Minor Seminary Arches)
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English) Quadricentennial Arch, Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona
September 13, Sunday : DAY FOR THE RELIGIOUS
Theme: Joy of total commitment to serving the poor
3 – 7 pm: Confessions (Minor Seminary Arches)
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English)
9:00 pm: Marian Procession (Cathedral Grounds)
September 14, Monday : DAY FOR THE CHILDREN
Theme: God’s mysterious presence among those utterly vulnerable
3 – 7 pm: Confessions (Minor Seminary Arches)
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English)
8:00 pm Marian Procession (Cathedral Grounds)
10:00 pm: Perdon Procession along the major streets of Naga City
September 15, Tuesday : DAY FOR EDUCATORS, TEACHERS AND MEDIA PRACTITIONERS
Theme: Compassion that heals, liberates and encourages growth in Christian life
6:00 am: Pontifical Mass, Diocese of Virac, Bishop Manolo de los Santos
8:00 am: Pontifical Mass, Diocese of Libmanan, Bishop Jose R. Rojas
9:00 am: Visit to Charitable Institutions (c/o I-Share)
3-7 pm: Confessions (Minor Seminary Arches)
3:00 pm: Union of Bicol Clergy (Holy Rosary Minor Seminary)
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English)
8:00 pm Marian Procession (Cathedral Grounds)
10:00 pm: Perdon Procession along the major streets of Naga City
September 16, Wednesday : DAY FOR THE SICK, THE ELDERLY AND HEALTH WORKERS
Theme: Mater dolorosa, fidelity to God’s will in the midst of suffering
6:00 am: Pontifical Mass, Diocese of Daet, Bishop Gilbert Garcera
9:00 am: Visit to Charitable Institutions (c/o I-Share)
3-7 pm: Confessions (Minor Seminary Arches)
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English)
8:00 pm Marian Procession (Cathedral Grounds)
10:00 pm: Perdon Procession along the major streets of Naga City
September 17, Thursday : DAY FOR THE POOR & PRISONERS
Theme: The poor as privileged recipients of the gospel
3:00 am: Penitential Procession of INA & Divino Rostro
6:00 am: Pontifical Mass, Diocese of Sorsogon, Bishop Arturo Bastes
9:00 am: Visit to Charitable Institutions (c/o I-Share)
3-6 pm: Confessions (Minor Seminary Arches)
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English)
6:00 pm: Union of Bikol Clergy Mass (Cathedral) Bishop Arturo Bastes
7:30 pm: Confessions (Cathedral)
8:00 pm: Marian Procession (Cathedral Grounds)
September 18, Friday : DAY FOR PRIESTS AND SEMINARIANS
Theme: Proclaiming a gospel of justice, mercy and love
3:00 am: Penitential Procession of INA & Divino Rostro
6:00 am: Pontifical Mass, Diocese of Masbate, Bishop Jose Bantolo
10:00 am: Pontifical Mass, Military Ordinariate, Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak
3-7 pm: Confessions (Minor Seminary Arches)
4:00 pm: Blessing and Inauguration of the Museo de Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia
5:00 pm: Novena Mass (English)
8:00 pm: Marian Procession (Cathedral Grounds)
9:00 pm: Vigilia de Espigas, Adoracion Nocturna Filipina
September 19, Saturday : DAY FOR GOVERNMENT LEADERS & WORKERS
Theme: Attentiveness to the cry of the poor
3:00 am: Penitential Procession of INA & Divino Rostro
6:00 am: Pontifical Mass, Archdiocese of Caceres, Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona
10:00 am: Pontifical Mass, Diocese of Legazpi, Bishop Joel Baylon
12:00 nn: Ringing of Bells
2:00 pm: Community Mass (Quadricentennial Arch)
Community Mass (Tabuco Bridge Landing)
4:00 pm: FLUVIAL PROCESSION
4-6 pm: Confessions (Basilica Grounds)
6:30 pm: Pontifical Mass (Basilica Grounds) Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana
September 20, Sunday : SOLEMNITY OF OUR LADY OF PEÑAFRANCIA
Theme: Living out God’s mercy and compassion in the Year of the Poor
6:30 am: Pontifical Mass (Basilica) Bishop Lucilo Quiambao
8:00 am: Pontifical Mass (Basilica) Archdiocese of Caceres, Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona
9:30 am: Pontifical Mass (Basilica) Bishop Adolfo Tito Yllana
11:00 am: Pontifical Mass (Basilica) Bishop Jose Rojas
6:00 pm: Pontifical Mass (Basilica) Bishop Manolo de los Santos
Plan your trip to Bicolandia now and witness one of the country's largest religious festivals!
SOURCES:
Peñafrancia Festival[info]: http://www.tourism.gov.ph/
Schedule of Events and Activities [images] Naga Smiles To The World Facebook Page
Religious Activities[info] Penafrancia Basilica Minore Facebook Page
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