Thousands of devotees join the annual solemn procession of Our Lady of Guadalupe as part of its fiesta celebration (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON).
YESTERDAY’S heavy rains did not stop hordes of devotees of the Our Lady of Guadalupe from joining the annual procession in honor of the Patroness of Cebu.
Devotees, who attended the hour-long procession were estimated to reach more than 20,000.
The solemn walk began at past 5 p,m. in the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church, going through the streets V. Rama Avenue.
Many of the faithful carried images of the Blessed Mother.
“Panata na ni namo kada tuig (Its been our tradition every year),” said Gloria Tabordal, 37 who came all the way from Barangay Babag, a Cebu City mountain village.
Today, the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu celebrates its 83rd annual fiesta with the theme, “Ubos sa Pangama sa Mahal nga Maria sa Guadalupe sa Sugbu ang Matag Katalingban Magkahiusa ug Magtambayayong Padulong sa Kausaban ug Kalambuan (each society unites and cooperates for change and progress).”
After the procession, an estimated 5,000 devotees attended a concelebrated Mass officiated by Bishop Dennis Villarojo.
A 10 a.m. High Mass will be officiated by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma at the Guadalupe Parish; while another concelebrated Mass, this time at Langub Shrine, will be held.
The Mass will be officiated by Rt. Rev. Msgr. Esteban Binghay, who consecrated the cave in December 1977, making it a holy place for worshipers and devotees of the Our Lady of Guadalupe.