Devotees will celebrate on Tuesday, June 27, the Feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help (Ina ng Laging Saklolo).
Our Mother of Perpetual Help (Catholic Tradition)
A fiesta mass will be officiated by Fr. Rogerio Gomes, superior general of the Redemptorists, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, also known as the Baclaran Church or Redemptorist Church, in Baclaran, Paranaque City.
This year’s feast marks the 75th year (1948-2023) of devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help at the Baclaran Church. Preparations for the celebration and countdown to the 75th year of novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help began last year.
Novena masses were offered from June 18 to 26.
Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles John Brown who officiated the 8th novena mass on June 25 said, perpetual means “always and forever. She is a Perpetual one who helps us always and forever. She helps us overcome our fear,” the Papal envoy stressed.
Devotees traditionally light candles, pray the Holy Rosary, recite novena prayers, sing hymns, and offer flowers in thanksgiving for answered prayers, ask for the Blessed Mother’s powerful intercession, or simply, pay homage to Our Lady under the special title of Mother of Perpetual Help. Some even walk on their knees from the church door to the altar to ask for special favors.
Church officials encourage the faithful to pray and reflect on the “Memorare,” a special prayer of devotion and confidence on the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Known as one of the most visited Catholic churches in the country, the Baclaran Church receives hundreds of devotees particularly every Wednesday when traffic in the area is particularly heavy.
The novena masses are an old tradition rooted from the Wednesday public novena established by the Redemptorist fathers in 1948.
