Coronations
The Episcopal Coronation
With the unending grace and blessings given to the devotees through the intercession of the La Purísima Concepción, the desire to honor the image with a coronation began. Efforts were made to ask the local ordinary to grant an Episcopal Coronation to the Virgin. With hopes and prayers, the people of Santa Maria fervently waited for the decision of the bishop.
A big surprise came on February 8, 2018, feast of La Purisima Concepcion. During the Holy Mass presided by Most. Rev. Jose F. Oliveros, D.D., then Bishop of Malolos, a decree that granted the miraculous image of the La Purísima Concepción with an Episcopal Coronation was promulgated. The decree cited the role of the venerated image in the deepening of the faith of the people of Santa Maria, a concrete proof of Mary’s intercession.
All roads led to the church of Santa Maria on March 3, 2018, the day of the Episcopal Coronation. Devotees from all parts of Bulacan and nearby provinces participated in the much-awaited celebration in honor of the miraculous image. Bishop Oliveros personally gave the catechesis on the rationale of the occasion. The good Bishop, who was also a devotee of La Purísima Concepción, was undergoing treatment for cancer during the time of coronation.
The Canonical Coronation
February 1, 2020, Saturday devotion to the Blessed Mother, was a memorable and historic date to the people of Santa Maria, when the solemn Canonical Coronation of La Purísima Concepción was held. Led by the Most Rev. Jose S. Palma, D.D. Archbishop of Cebu and Most Rev. Dennis C. Villarojo, D.D., Bishop of Malolos, the Holy Mass and the Rite of Canonical Coronation took place at the La Purísima Concepción Parish Church. Also present were Most Rev. Honesto F. Ongtioco, D.D. Bishop of Cubao, Most. Rev. Bartolome G. Santos, Jr. D.D. Bishop of Iba and a native of Santa Maria, and Most Rev. Deogracias S. Iñiguez, Jr., D.D. Bishop Eme-ritus of Caloocan. Msgr. Julien Kaboré, Chargé d’ Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila represented the Holy Father. Around forty priests, mostly from the Diocese of Malolos, were also present led by the Vicar General, Rev. Msgr. Pablo Legaspi and Rev. Fr. Cenon Dennis Santos, Chancellor.
After the homily, the Rite of Canonical Coronation followed. Msgr. Kabore read the decree in Latin, then Fr. Santos read the translation in Filipino. The crown was offered by the Camarera de la Virgen, Ms. Lourdes Perez, accompanied by John Harvey Ramirez. The crown was received by Genesis Macapagat and Kobe Escoto, and presented it to the Archbishop for the blessing. Ramirez, Macapagat and Escoto were from to the Lingap Bata Center, an orphanage funded and supported by the La Purísima Concepción Parish. Then the image was solemnly crowned by Archbishop Palma, assisted by Bishop Villarojo and the parish priest. Rev. Msgr. Ranilo Trillana, P.C. “Mabuhay ka! Mabunyi naming Reyna”, the official theme song for the coronation was sung as the procession of the image within and outside the church was held. The devotees waved their white handkerchiefs as a sign of great joy and thanks-giving.
The celebration of the Holy Mass continued and ended with a message of the Holy Father Francis delivered by Msgr. Kabore. Bishop Villarojo also delivered his message of thanksgiving to all bishops, clergies and lay faithful present in the event. Lastly, Msgr. Trillana expressed his gratitude to the people who took part in the preparation for the coronation, stating that the event is a joint effort of several groups, the Parish Pastoral Council, the Santa Maria Town Fiesta Committee and the Canonical Coronation Committee. He also urged everyone for the continuous deepening and propagation of the devotion to the La Purísima Concepción, now that it has received the highest recognition given by the Catholic Church to venerated Marian images. The celebration was covered and publicized through the social media, with TV Maria and Radio Veritas 846 as the official media partners.
The process undertaken to obtain this recognition was filled with difficulties, but through the intercession of Mary, the grace of canonical coronation was finally realized for the town of Santa Maria, the Diocese of Malolos, and the devotees of La Purísima Concepción. This Canonical Coronation is a humble offering of the people as a thanksgiving for the unending grace and love of the Lord, obtained through Mary, La Purisima Concepcion.
