Archdiocese of Caceres to Conduct Harubay

On September 1, 2009, the Tercentenary Committee of the Archdiocese of Caceres, through various religious groups, will conduct Harubay, Para ki Hesus asin Ki Ina, to mark the beginning of September as a pilgrim's month.  The activity will commence with a motorcade through the major thoroughfares of Naga City and culminate with a Eucharistic Celebration at the Peñafrancia Basilica.

Fr. Andrew Recepcion, Executive Secretary of the Tercentenary Committee, says that Harubay is an invitation to Naga City residents to prepare for September as a pilgrim's month. "Pilgrims come to Naga City not only during the nine-day novena but the entire month. We need to emphasize that September is pilgrim's month in Naga City and dispel the view that Peñafrancia activities must be confined only within the novena."

"Naga City residents are called to welcome pilgrims during this month (September). It does not only mean opening our homes. It can be in simple ways." Recepcion adds "We, as hosts, should be spiritually prepared."

Judge Nellie Llaguno, president of the Apostleship of Prayer and one of the proponents of Harubay, says that the activity is a reminder that September is the month that we celebrate the feasts of the Divino Rostro and the Our Lady of Peñafrancia. "It is only fitting that beginning September 1, we should be spiritually prepared."

Novena to the Divino Rostro will begin on September 2. The feast of the Divino Rostro falls on the day of the Traslacion. The feast of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia is on September 20.

The motorcade will assemble at St. Jude Parish Church along Almeda Highway at 7:00 in the morning. The motorcade is expected to arrive at the Basilica at 9:30. At 10:00 AM, there will be simultaneous ringing of church bells and release of 299 balloons to signify the 299 years of the devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia. After which, the Holy Hour and confessions will begin.  The Mass is scheduled at 11:30, to be followed by an agape.

According to Recepcion, this is the first time that the Archdiocese is conducting the Harubay. "We hope that this will be tradition. Anybody can join. Those who are interested may join the motorcade from the assembly area. They may also proceed to the Basilica for the Holy Hour and confessions. This is our way to help residents prepare for the Peñafrancia Fiesta."

The activity, an initiative of the lay members of the Church, was endorsed by the Tercentenary Committee to various schools and religious groups, among them is Couples for Christ and El Shaddai.  "September is a special month for Naga City and Bikol, because this is the month we celebrate two very significant religious feasts," Llaguno adds.

"We hope that future generations will not lose sight of the real significance of the month of September," she concluded.

The image of the Divino Rostro precedes the image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia during the Traslacion and Fluvial Processions. The tradition that both images be brought to the Metropolitan Cathedral during the Traslacion, and back to the Peñafrancia Shrine began in the 1882 when Bishop Casimiro Herrero, O.S.A., upon the suggestion of Fr. Pedro de la Torre, enshrined the image of the Divino Rostro for veneration so the people would be spared from cholera epidemic. According to historical accounts, when the threat was dispelled, the people attributed their protection from the epidemic to the Divino Rostro. That year, the images were both carried that year during the Traslacion.