The Company of Saint Dominic: CSD WAS OFFICIALLY INCORPORATED IN THE ORDER OF THE LA NAVAL PROCESSION

LA NAVAL PROCESSION 2010

Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de la Naval de Manila, ruega por nosotros

PART I : START OF THE PROCESSION

The Company of St. Dominic Joins La Naval Procession 2010

The second Sunday of October marks the feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of La Naval. Last October 10, 2010 the annual procession in honor of Our Lady of La Naval was held. Magnificent carrozas of Dominican saints of the Rosary were paraded around the vicinity of Sto. Domingo Church, the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Naval. Of course, the grandest carroza carried the historic, ancient and miraculous image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de la Naval de Manila.

Regina Sacratissimi Rosarii, ora pro nobis

This year, the Company of St. Dominic (CSD) officially joins the procession of La Naval. Rev. Fr. Giuseppe Pietro V. Arsciwals, OP, Prior of Sto. Domingo Convent formally invited the Company of St. Dominic, the newest addition to the Dominican Family in the Philippines, to join the solemn procession in honor of the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary. The CSD was asked to follow the carroza of San Pedro Martir, glorious proto-martyr of the Order of Preachers.

The Company of St. Dominic officially joins La Naval Procession

Members of the CSD rejoiced upon learning that they would follow the carroza of the first martyr of the Dominican Order. It was indeed very fitting for the CSD because some of its members are apologists or defenders of the Catholic Faith like San Pedro Martir.

The carroza of San Pedro Martir

San Pedro was born of heretical parents in Verona in 1206. He met our holy father St. Dominic in Bologna and begged admission to the Order of Preachers. He became an effective and celebrated preacher who successfully disputed with heretics all over Northern Italy. Vanquished and enraged, the enemies of the faith ambushed and killed him on the road to Milan. Dying, he wrote in his own blood Credo in unum Deum. The members of the CSD are thus challenged to imitate the zealous faith of San Pedro Martir and defend our holy Catholic faith with their blood, if need be.

The estandarte of Our Lady of La Naval at the side altar of the Sto. Domingo Church

After their Theology Class in Siena College, the members of the CSD trooped to Sto. Domingo Church to join this year’s La Naval procession, following the carroza of their assigned Dominican saint. The carroza of San Pedro Martir is the fourth to the last, followed by the carrozas of Sto. Domingo de Guzman, San Jose and of course, the festejada, Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de la Naval de Manila.

The saga of La Naval

The Company of St. Dominic carried aloft during the procession the precious relics of our holy father Sto. Dominingo de Guzman, our seraphic mother Sta. Catalina de Siena and San Martin de Porres. Two candle bearers escorted the sacred relics of the great Dominican saints the CSD is most privileged to possess.

Papier maché image of Our Lady of La Naval

The CSD members followed the estandarte of their secular institute. During the solemn procession, the members of the CSD and their guests recited the Holy Rosary and sung Rosarian hymns. (My guests for this year’s La Naval procession were brother Rodolfo Camaclang III and sister Dwen Lumangue of Defensores Fidei Foundation and brother Glen de Javing, OFM Cap.).

San Pedro Martir

The grand procession wounded through the main streets around Sto. Domingo Church. When the procession was over, the members of the CSD were privileged to enter the church and joined the various Dominican congregations in the area allotted for them. Their place near the altar afforded them vantage view of the ceremonies for the entrance and enthronement of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de la Naval de Manila.

San Pedro de Verona, protomartyr of the Order of Preachers

When the carroza of La Naval entered the church, the people roared with the jubilant shout of Viva La Virgen! The faithful were waving white handkerchiefs as the Virgin of La Naval entered her Shrine amidst pomp and pageantry. When the Virgin’s carroza reached the sanctuary, she was serenaded with a very stirring rendition of Beata Mater. The Virgin was then carried and transferred to a trolley to be enthroned in the high altar of Sto. Domingo Church.

Members of the Company of St. Dominic solemnly join the procession

The enthronement ceremony was very beautiful. Incense smoke arose from the pedestal while the image of La Naval slowly emerged. As soon as the Virgin was in place at the main altar, the Act of Consecration to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of La Naval was recited by the faithful. The Act of Consecration was led by the award-winning and popular child actor Zaijan Jaranilla who starred as Santino in the high-rating teleserye May Bukas Pa.

Estandarte of the Company of St. Dominic with the effigies of Sto. Domingo de Guzman and Sta. Catalina de Siena

Rev. Fr. Giuseppe Pietro Arsciwals, OP thanked all those who participated in La Naval festivities this year.

Viva la Compania de Santo Domingo!!!

The ceremonies in honor of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de la Naval de Manila concluded with the very moving traditional singing of Despedida a la Virgen. We now look forward to next year’s La Naval procession.

The Company of St. Dominic in full force!!!

Members of the Company of St. Dominic in prayerful recitation and meditation of the most host holy rosary

Our seraphic mother Sta. Catalina de Siena

Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, headed by its Mother General, Mo. Jesusa Enginco, OP, follow the carroza of our seraphic mother St. Catherine of Siena. Also in the picture is Sr. Meriam Litor, OP, formatress of OP Siena and the Company of St. Dominic