Paranaque to celebrate 385th Feast of Nuestra Senora in August

Parañaque celebrates 385th Feast of Nuestra Señora Del Buen Suceso on August 10 Highlight includes a novena, a healing mass and a grand procession.

The people of Parañaque will celebrate the feast of their beloved patroness, Nuestra Señora Del Buen Suceso at Saint Andrew’s Cathedral on August 10, 2010.

This year’s celebration of the Virgen del Buen Suceso’s fiesta is one of the focal points in the year-long commemoration of the 430th Founding Anniversary of St. Andrew’s Parish.

The various advocacies which the Buen Suceso has long been associated with and the numerous favors which she has dispensed to her faithful devotees and for the last 385 years will be recounted during the event. Veneration of the image of Nuestra Senora del Buen Suceso began in the town of Paranaque in 1625 when then Superior of the Order of St. Augustine, Rev. Fr. Alonzo de Mentrida, O.S.A. ordered Rev. Fr. Juan de Guevarra, O.S.A. to enthrone the image in the church’s main altar.

This was after an investigation into the reported mysterious occurrences related to the image. The date was August 10, 1625. It was also on the same occasion that the image was given the name “Nuestra Senora del Buen Suceso” after that title was drawn for six consecutive times.

On September 8, 2000 the Buen Suceso was canonically crowned in recognition of the centuries-long devotion of the people of Paranaque to our Lady. She was subsequently declared Patroness of the City of Parañaque. The novena masses will be held from August 1 to 9 at 6:00 am. A healing mass is scheduled on August 7, 2010 at 3 pm during which the “Santo Oleo ng Buen Suceso” (Holy Oil of the Buen Suceso) will be given away. On the day of the fiesta, masses will be at 6:00 am, 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 noon, 3:00 pm. The Procession Grande will start at 4:00 pm and will wind around the streets of Old Parañaque.

During the procession, the image will be flanked by the Doce Estrellas or 12 beautiful maidens of the parish. Highlight of the procession will be the singing of the “Gozos de la Virgen del Buen Suceso” by the Luna Hermosa who will serenade the Virgin from a balcony along the route of the procession. The Solemn High Mass will immediately follow at 6:00 pm.

For inquiries, please contact the Cathedral Parish of Saint Andrew, Parañaque City at telephone number 8261760.