Bicol Penafrancia Festival 2008 Schedule

The feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is celebrated on the third Saturday of September in Naga City, Bicol. The feast day is preceded by a novena, nine days of prayer, in honor of the Virgin. On the first day, the image of the Virgin, a copy of the Madonna in Peñafrancia, Spain, is brought from its shrine to the Naga Cathedral where the novena is held.

On the last day, the image is returned to her shrine following the Naga River route. The colorful evening procession is lit by thousands of candles from devotees in boats escorting the image. When the barge reaches its destination, the devotees shout "Viva la Virgen" (Long live the Virgin!) and the image is brought back in a procession to the cathedral.

According to locals, a Spanish government official from Peñafrancia, Spain, settled with his family in Cavite in 1712. One day, his daughter fell ill and the family prayed for her recovery to the famous Madonna of Peñafrancia, a picture of whom was in their possession.

When the daughter recovered, the father vowed to build a chapel in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Manila. However, since he was being detained in Nueva Caceras, he built the chapel in that city, now known as Naga, instead.



Here is this year's Penafrancia Festival Schedule. Kita-kits!

September 3 – September 11 , 2008
5:00 PM
Solemn Novenary Masses in honor of the Divino Rostro at the Basilica of Peñafrancia

September 11 (Thursday)
4:30 AM
Penitential Procession in honor of the Divino Rostro

September 12 (Friday)
4:30 AM
Penitential Procession in honor of the Divino Rostro
6:00 AM
Pontifical Concelebrated Mass (Peñafrancia Basilica)
12:30 PM
TRASLACION Procession from the Basilica to Naga Cathedral

September 12 - 20
5:00 PM
Solemn Novenary Masses in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia (Naga Metropolitan Cathedral)

September 13 (Saturday)
5:00 PM
Novena Mass

September 14 (Sunday)
5:00 PM
Novena Mass

September 15 (Monday)
5:00 PM
Novena Mass

September 16 (Tuesday)
6:00 AM
Pontifical Mass (Naga Cathedral) Diocese of Virac
8:00 AM
Pontifical Mass (Naga Cathedral) Prelature of Libmanan
5:00 PM
Novena Mass

September 17 (Wednesday)
6:00 AM
Pontifical Concelebrated Mass (Naga Cathedral) Diocese of Daet
5:00 PM
Novena Mass

September 18 (Thursday)
6:00 AM
Pontifical Concelebrated Mass (Naga Cathedral) Diocese of Sorsogon
8:00 AM
Pontifical Mass Diocese of Cabanatuan
5:00 PM
Novena Mass
5:30 PM
Union of Bicol Clergy Mass – (Cathedral Church)

September 19 (Friday)
4:00 AM
Penitential Procession in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia from the Cathedral towards the South (Downtown Area)
6:00 AM
Pontifical Concelebrated Mass Diocese of Masbate
8:00 AM
Pontifical Concelebrated Mass (Naga Cathedral) Diocese of Legazpi
10:00 AM
Pontifical Concelebrated Mass (Naga Cathedral) Military Ordinariate
5:00 PM
Novena Mass
7:00 PM
Clergy Night (Archbishop’s Residence)
Prayer Vigil (Adoracion Nocturna Filipina)-(Naga Cathedral)

September 20 (Saturday)
Metropolitan Cathedral
4:00 AM
Penitential Procession in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia from the Cathedral towards North Bagumbayan Area)
6:00 AM
Pontifical Concelebrated Mass (Archdioceseof Caceres)
8:00 AM
Concelebrated Mass
10:00 AM
Concelebrated Mass
3:00 PM
GRAND FLUVIAL PROCESSION
6:00 PM
Pontifical Concelebrated Mass (Basilica Diamond Jubilee Pavilion)

September 21 (Sunday)
SOLEMNITY OF OUR LADY OF PEÑAFRANCIA
Community Masses at the Basilica Church at 4:00 AM – 8:30 PM and Basilica Diamond Jubilee Pavilion
at 5:00 AM –11:00 AM
PONTIFICAL CONCELEBRATED MASSES: Basilica of Peñafrancia
6:30 AM
For the Society of Jesus, Vincentians and Daughters of Charity
8:00 AM
Archdiocese of Caceres
9:30 AM
Diocese of Sorsogon
11:00 AM
Diocese of Legazpi
6:00 PM
For the Filipino-Chinese Community