Tarlac bishop approves episcopal coronation of Nuestra Señora de la Merced

Bishop Enrique Macaraeg of Tarlac has approved the episcopal coronation of Nuestra Señora de la Merced enshrined at a diocesan shrine in the city.

Dela Merced Shrine Rector Fr. Jesus Gragasin made the announcement during Mass on Sunday.

“In honor of our beloved patroness, Nuestra Señora de la Merced, the Diocese of Tarlac has approved our request that the image be given an episcopal coronation,” Fr. Gragasin said.

He said the coronation will be held at 8:30 a.m. on September 24, the feast day of the parish located in the city’s Matatalaib district.

“We shall hold nine-day novena Masses in honor of the patroness and a simple yet meaningful celebration of the coronation will be held on the parish’s feast day,” the priest said.

Bishop Macaraeg will lead the ceremony, which also coincides the parish’s 65th canonical erection anniversary.

The statue of Nuestra Señora de la Merced will be second Marian image to be granted episcopal coronation in the diocese, next to the image of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores of Mater Dolorosa Parish in Capas town, that was crowned on September 15, 2018.

The shrine is also one of the nine diocesan shrines of the Diocese of Tarlac and its third Marian shrine. (Kendrick Ivan B. Panganiban | CBCP News)

A version of this article was first published on CBCP News.