As one of the preparatory activities for the Presentation of the Child Jesus (PCJ) Parish Fiesta celebration, a Dalaw Ni Maria was held for a 9-day period from January 12 to 22, 2015. During this event, the pilgrim image of Our Lady of Candelaria, the patroness of the PCJ, was brought in a procession daily from one village enclave to another, and stayed overnight in the designated area in the enclave. This year, the Dalaw ni Maria was held in the different BEC clusters: St. Joseph, St. Paul, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Therese of the Child Jesus, St. Francis of Assisi (Target 1 & 2), San Isidro Labrador, Santa Monica and St. John the Baptist.
Dalaw ni Maria allows members of the different enclaves to commemorate the visitation of Our Lady to her cousin Elizabeth and they rejoice not only for the presence of Our Lady in their midst, but more so because Our Lady brought with her, Our Lord Jesus, the light of the world.
During the Dalaw ni Maria, many of the residents of the enclaves joined the procession and showed homage to Our Lady by preparing a small altar containing a candle, crucifix and an image of the Blessed Virgin outside their homes along the designated route of the procession. Holy Mass was celebrated after the procession, followed by a fellowship. Prayer vigils were held which consisted of praying the Holy Rosary and Bible reflection and sharing on the Gospel Reading of the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the temple.
With the support of the BEC clusters in the parish, the recently concluded Dalaw ni Maria was able to successfully fulfill its two-fold objectives of fostering devotion to Our Lady of Candelaria at the enclave level and involving BEC enclaves in the parish fiesta preparations.
-Lorna Buenviaje