Arroyo to join Marian pilgrimage in Lipa

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo will join thousands of Marian devotees in the yearly pilgrimage to the Carmel Monastery Church in Lipa in Batangas on Friday. A Palace statement said the pilgrimage will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the "appearance" of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Sr. Teresita Castillo of the Carmelite Convent in Lipa. The apparition has attracted thousands upon thousands of devotees and pilgrims to the monastery across the years, although the National Pilgrimage was organized only five years ago. During the National Pilgrimage, there will be a day of Prayer and Consecration for Peace and for the sanctification of the clergy. This year's pilgrimage theme is "I am your Mother (Towards a Prayerful, Committed, Contemplative, Spirit-filled Marian Family)." Friday's activities will end at the Carmel Monastery with a concelebrated mass at 3:30 p.m. with Manila archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales as main officiator. Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines president Angel Lagdameo will deliver the homily. There will also be a coronation rite of the Image of the Virgin after the mass to be led by Cebu archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal. Batangas Governor Vilma Santos Recto will recite the prayer of consecration to Jesus through Mary while Arroyo will end the coronation rite of the image of the Virgin by reciting a prayer of consecration for the country. - GMANews.TV