The first Saturday of the month is a day dedicated to our Lady. On the 7th of September, the first Saturday, the Manresa School FI Sisters and the Pastoral Ministry members through the invitation of the Family Ministry volunteers, Dr. Lemuel and Mrs. Reese Del Rosario, participated in the pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary, La Naval De Manila at the Sto. Domingo Church, Quezon City. 

After the orientation was given by the seminarians in-charge, the group had a solemn community prayer with other pilgrims and personal adoration of the Image.  

Likewise, on that blissful day, they visited the Museo de Sto. Domingo and learned the  history of the grand and iconic statue of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of La Naval de Manila and the Filipino devotion to her.

Excerpts from the tour and brochure: The Church of Santo Domingo was damaged several times by fire and earthquakes and was bombed and destroyed on December 27, 1941. But miraculously, the Dominicans recovered the statue of the Lady undamaged, whole and intact in one piece. It was transferred to the University of Sto. Tomas and gained many devotees.  When the shrine and the new Santo Domingo church in Quezon City was completed

In 1954, the statue was brought back through a solemn procession of thousands of clergy, lay and devotees to the newly constructed shrine and church of Santo Domingo. During the Marian year of 1954, the Philippine bishops declared the Church of Santo Domingo in Quezon City to be the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary.  The lady was also conferred and  acknowledged as the Patroness of the capital city of the Philippines. In 2009, the Philippine government designated the image and its shrine as a National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines making it one of the country’s cultural properties.

The Filipino devotion to La Naval de Manila began in the 16th century and grew faster after her enshrinement. The Dominican community of Santo Domingo and devotees continue to promote devotion to Our Lady of La Naval. 

Our Lady of the Rosary La Naval De Manila, Pray for us! 

Read more about the Our Lady of the Rosary known as Nuestra Señora de la Naval.

By Ms. Bonna Bayais-Villagracia