SANTA RITA -- Marian devotees from all over Pampanga flocked to this town on Sunday, May 14, for the grand marian procession in honor of the centennial of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima in Portugal with Marian images coming from as far as Mabalacat City and Bacolor town.
The different iconographies of the Blessed Virgin Mary under different devotional titles were the highlight of the event.
The image of Our Lady of Grace of Mabalacat City and Our Lady of La Naval de Bacolor were among the close to 25 images that joined in the procession in the main thoroughfares of the town here.
The event started with a public viewing of the images and proceeded with the solemn procession attended by local residents and visitors from different parishes.
Participating images came as far as Guagua, Diladila in Santa Rita town, Lubao and Porac.
The procession is in honor of the centennial of the apparitions in Portugal. The image of Our Lady of Fatima was last in the line-up of images. Marian devotees also offered flowers before her image after the procession.
The Blessed Mother appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal in 1917 and told them of three prophecies: of hell, the consecration of Russia, and the death of a pope and other religious figures.
The second prophecy is widely believed to relate to the Second World War and the disintegration of the Soviet Union.
The event also coincided with the first of the nine-day novena before the town’s feast day on May 22.
