Sunday, July 25, an important Filipino religious tradition will
be observed at Gilroy’s St. Mary Catholic Church (11 First Street),
a celebration of the Feast of the Lady of Antipolo.
Sunday, July 25, an important Filipino religious tradition will be observed at Gilroy’s St. Mary Catholic Church (11 First Street), a celebration of the Feast of the Lady of Antipolo.
A Mass will be celebrated at 4 p.m. by the Rev. Peter Seimas, former spiritual advisor of PACG, who is returning to Gilroy from his new assignment in Sunnyvale to officiate.
The Phil-Am Community of Gilroy invites all South County residents to join them in this observance, to be followed by a potluck celebration immediately afterwards. Dorie Sandow, public relations officer of the group and local mortgage loan consultant, hopes many visitors will come to share in this aspect of Filipino culture.
There is an important legend behind this tradition. Far back into history, sailors sought protection from the Mother of Jesus. It became common to bring along images of this saint aboard ships.
In March of 1629, Governor Don Juan Nino de Tabora left Mexico aboard the galleon “El Amirante” for the Philippines, bringing along a brown statue of St. Mary. When the ship safely arrived in Manila despite pirates storms, and a fire, the governor declared a celebration.
A procession brought the image to the Catholic Cathedral in Manila, and it was given the name “Nuestra Senora de la Paz y Buenviaje” (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage).
The image was then installed in a mission church atop a mountain east of Manila. Several times plans were made to move it to another church, but each time the image disappeared and was found on the trunk of a tree at the site of the old church. The town of Antipolo then developed around this church, and she became known as Our Lady of Antipolo.
Over centuries, it became a great site of religious devotion. Even today, thousands of pilgrims make the climb up the mountain to revere this image, particularly during the month of May. Devotion to her is said to improve prospects of safe travel.
Filipinos often visit this church and seek her intercession before going on long trips, though Sandow explains “the broader essence of this tradition is to turn to her as we travel through life, facing and surviving life’s perils.”
When the Japanese occupied the Philippines during World War II, the image was evacuated to more remote villages higher in the mountains, finally being returned to Antipolo in October of 1945.
The Gilroy observance is part of a Novena (series of nine consecutive Masses) in honor of Our Lady of Antipolo being hosted at different parishes throughout the Diocese of San Jose from July 22 through 31, starting with Santa Teresa in San Jose and ending with a dinner-dance celebration at St. John the Baptist in Milpitas.
The Phil-Am Community of Gilroy regularly invites local residents to share in observances of Filipino culture and traditions. Newly elected officers are Rey Santillan, president; Edith Cruz, vice president; Evelyn Miranda, treasurer; May Gomez, secretary. For more information call 842-0942.
