Traditional Celebration for INA – Mother of Bicol
Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia is the Patroness of Bicol. Every second or third week of September, thousands of pilgrims from all around the region flock to Naga City to celebrate the fiesta of our Lady of Peñafrancia. On the first day of the week of festivities, her image, which is a replica of the Madonna in Peñafrancia, Spain, is brought from her shrine in the Basilica to the Naga Cathedral where she is honored with nine days of novena prayers. On the last day, her image is returned to the Basilica by boat on the waters of the Naga River. The colorful evening procession is lit by thousands of candles carried by devotees (voyadores) on boats escorting her image and shouting, “Viva La Virgen” (Long Live the Virgin).
Peñafrancia Fiesta in Jersey City
In New York and New Jersey, members of Our Lady of Peñafrancia Devotees Association, Inc., in cooperation with the Bicolandia Association, Inc. of the Eastern Seaboard, replicate the traditional festivities in Naga City with nine days of novena, devotional prayers and mass at the Church of Our Lady of Victories in Jersey City. On the third Saturday of September, the annual celebration culminates with mass and a fluvial procession of the replica of the image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia on the waters around the Liberty State Park, followed by sharing of home cooked Bicolano food, Filipino delicacies, drinks and fellowship.
Commemorating the Life and Legacy of Msgr. Jerry Rebanal
Rev. Msgr. JeremiaS “Jerry” Rebanal, M.Div., JCD, Ph.D.
B. February 9, 1930 – D. January 24, 2026
Ordained to the priesthood on March 25, 1955 in Legazpi City
Priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey; Pastor Emeritus, St. Aedan’s Church, Jersey City; Spiritual adviser of OLPDA.
The header art is by the famed painter Raul Alcomendas of Naga City, located in the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Peñafrancia .
Our Lady of Peñafrancia Devotees Association (Tri-State), Inc. 