Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Olongapo – Mother and Advocate of the Youth

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Olongapo

We might be familiar with the sobriquet and its accompanying devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe in the country mainly for two things: the Celestial Patroness of our country and Pro Life Patroness. But in a simple parish dedicated to St. Rita of Cascia in Olongapo, Zambales, a special altar dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe can be seen where she is officially the Patroness of the youth in the said parish and diocese.

One might wonder how it happened, but as we learn about her story, we see how the Virgin of Guadalupe transcended all ages and once again showed herself as a Mother to all of us.

The Image

The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe of St. Rita of Cascia Parish in Olongapo, Zambales is a poster print image of the Virgin of the said title that is commercially produced for parishes, chapels and homes. The image shows signs of fading due to the discoloration of the poster image yet still projects a maternal look to the beholder. The image is now set in an ornate frame with a cape placed at the back of the frame and her Episcopal Crown on top of it.

Advocate of Youth

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Olongapo

The origin of the poster image is unknown yet it is said that the image already existed and was kept at the parish office for the longest time.

The devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe in Santa Rita de Cascia Parish in Olongapo, Zambales began when in 2005 when the youth leaders of the parish headed by Norwin Nicol, Rannie Agrabio, Rodel de Guzman and Jeramie Molino. The youth retreatants were introduced to the Virgin’s image and story by a nun during their retreat in a Monastery in Caryana, Pampanga by narrating its history and distributed holy pictures and prayers to the Virgin.

The parish youth leaders were moved by the account of the apparition that the retreatants made a promise to the nun to do what they can to spread the devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The devotion to the Virgin of the Tilma formally began with the celebration of the first Guadalupe fiesta that was held in 2005 with a print image of the Virgin was enshrined at the parish as the focal point of the devotion.

The Parish Youth group continued their annual tradition of the festivity in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe and further helped on spreading the devotion to the whole parish that she became the focal point of the “Parish Youth Week” with the support of their parish priests since 2009.

In 2013, the Parish was caught in a typhoon that the image was one of the casualties while it was kept at the Office of the Commission of the Family in the parish. The image was toppled down to her altar and was muddied yet the image was miraculously kept intact and the glass protector wasn’t broken. The following year, through the parish youth’s initiative, with the help of Rev. Fr. John Michael Guilleno, the image was brought to Pampanga to have it encased to a better frame and a special throne for her.

Numerous miracles were attributed to her intercession that the devotion grew over the years and the youth organization of the parish became the prime promoters of the devotion.

Church Recognition

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Olongapo

During the celebration of the Year of the Youth by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippine, on December 11, 2011, Bishop Florentino Lavarias, DD, then Bishop of Iba granted the Episcopal Coronation of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and was named as the Mother, Queen, and Patroness of the Youth of Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish, Olongapo, Zambales.

The devotion at present

The devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe of St. Rita of Cascia Parish in Olongapo, Zambales continued to flourish up to this day and was credited for the transformation of the youth in the said parish. Even as the youth members grew older, the devotion persisted and became an integral part of their spiritual life.

“Am I not here, Your Mother?” These were the words that the Virgin of Guadalupe uttered to St. Juan Diego that also left a deep impression to all who would read or encounter the account of the apparitions. In the story of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Zambales, we see that its the youth who heeded her messages and entrusted their lives to her that became a catalyst for their faith which affected many up to the present.

It is sad to see our modern day youth cares more about themselves with the rise of social media were they will do anything, even acts of sacrilege, just to gain clout and short term popularity. The sad situation should be a challenge for us to introduce to them Our Lord and Our Lady and their immense love to all of us that one may not look for anything that is of this world.

Let us ask the intercession of the Virgin of Guadalupe to help us in this modern age where the culture of death is becoming more prevalent to preserve and protect our youth and our nation, as its Celestial Patroness, from its ugly claws that would lead us to destruction.

References:

Decree of Episcopal Coronation of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Diocese of Iba, Zambales, 2011.

“Maikiling Kasaysayan ng debosyon sa Mahal na Birhen ng Guadalupe ng mga Kabataan sa Parokya ng Santa Rita”, St. Rita Parish, Olongapo, Zambales, 2016.

Photos:

Parish of St. Rita of Cascia, Olongapo, Zambales