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August 24, 2018

Image of Mary Help of Christians crowned in northern Philippine diocese

An image of "Mary Help of Christians" was canonically crowned on Aug. 22 in the northern Philippine diocese of Lingayen-Dagupan.

Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, crowned the image in recognition of its role in expanding Catholicism in the province of Pangasinan.

"This is a clear message of affirmation from the Holy Father that this image of the Mother of God with Child Jesus has contributed to the growth of the Catholic faith in Pangasinan for the past 90 years," said Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan.

The papal nuncio led the canonical coronation during Mass at St. John the Evangelist Metropolitan Cathedral.

The coronation was authorized by Pope Francis through a decree issued on March 23.

The image was a gift from then Apostolic delegate Archbishop Guglielmo Piani to the first Bishop of Lingayen, Bishop Cesar Maria Guerrero, that led to the naming of the archdiocesan seminary as "Mary Help of Christian Seminary."

The coronation of the image gives the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan the "unique honor" of having two images canonically crowned. The other is the "Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag" that was crowned on April 22, 1926.

Photos by Karl Romano

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UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia