All set for Sto. Niño visit to Naval, Biliran

CEBU, Philippines - All is set for the two-day visit of the pilgrim image of the Señor Santo Niño de Cebu to the St. Therese Diocesan Shrine, Diocese of Naval, in Naval, Biliran.

The “Duaw Sto. Niño” will be on October 21 and 22, 2011, said its founding chairman Rey Martinez.

The pilgrim image will leave the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño at 7pm on Thursday on board a vessel of the Philippine Navy at the Malacañang sa Sugbu Port. Personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard, PCC Auxilliaries, Philippine National Police and Rescue Marshalls will escort the image.

The image is expected to arrive in Naval at 6am the next day and will be given military honors at the port. A procession will bring the image to the Naval Cathedral where a mass will be celebrated, which will be officiated by Bishop Filomeno Bactol at 9am. After the mass, a procession will bring the image to the Naval State University for a program and veneration.

A symposium by the Santo Niño de Cebu Augustinian Social Development Foundation, Inc. will follow.

Another procession will bring the image back to the Naval Port for the fluvial procession at the Biliran – Calubian Bay at 1pm. The image is expected to arrive at the Calubian Port at 3pm.

There, a motorcade will bring the image to the St. Therese Diocesan Shrine in Obispo, Calubian Leyte where a concelebrated mass will be officiated by Bishop Filomeno Bactol. Fireworks are expected to light the skies after the mass. A symposium and film showing will follow.

Also on Friday, the Naval State University together with the Naval Reserve, Marine Reserve and volunteer doctors will spearhead a medical mission at the St. Therese Shrine from 8am to 5pm.

At 5am the next day, Saturday, the Sea Knights headed by Fr. Tito Soqiuño of the Basilica del Sto. Niño, Fr. Charlie Orobia of USJ-R and Phil. Navy Frogmen will lead a coastal cleanup, mangrove planting, and setting-up of buoys.

By 10 am, Bactol will officiate the Pontifical High Mass. By 2pm, a procession will bring the image to the Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Calubian, Leyte before the send-off at the Calubian port at 5pm. - THE FREEMAN