• ANDREW ALTAREJOS
Hundreds of Marian devotees and members of the Barangay Sang Virgen coming from different provinces gathered at the San Sebastian Cathedral for the Solemn Episcopal Coronation of the Icon of the Virgen Sang Barangay yesterday morning, which was also the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.
Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon presided over the Solemn Episcopal Coronation of the Icon of the Virgen Sang Barangay during the mass at the Cathedral. Several priests also joined the bishop.
It also culminates the 75th Anniversary celebration of the Barangay Sang Virgen on its establishment in the Diocese of Bacolod. The bishop also thanked the organization for its continued work to spread the devotion of the Blessed Virgin Mary in communities and villages throughout the country and especially encourage young people to be part of this devotion to the Icon of the Virgen Sang Barangay. It’s time to pass it on to the next generation of this devotion which started here in Negros 75 years ago.
The local church is looking forward to a Pontifical Coronation of the Icon by the Papal Nuncio and also plans to hold a national congress of the Barangay Sang Virgen, to be hosted by the Diocese of Bacolod.
Also present during the mass were San Sebastian Cathedral Rector Msgr. Ronald Quijano, Fr. Narciso Gregori Gayares VII, and several priests from the Diocese.
Several members of the Barangay Sang Virgen coming from other parts of Negros, Panay, Davao, Bohol, Cebu, and Luzon came to attend the event.*
