Five major activities are slated: (1) Archdiocesan Pilgrimage and Flores de Mayo on the four Saturdays of May to be assigned to the four districts of the Archdiocese of Caceres; (2) INA’s Visit to the Naga City People’s Mall; (3) Reyna Elena and Santacruzan 2012; (4) 30th Anniversary Dedication Mass and Ground Breaking of the site of the new Museo de Peñafrancia and Center for Marian Studies; and (5) Medical and Dental Mission for the Children of Barangay Balatas.

The Our Lady of Peñafrancia Association (OLPA) spearheads the search for Reyna Elena 2012, a fund-raising activity to generate funds for the construction of the new Museo de Peñafrancia and Center for Marian Studies, which will be erected within the Basilica compound. It will house artifacts, paintings, photos and documents related to Ina’s more than 300 year-old devotion, and a modest library for studies and research on the Blessed Virgin Mary. Let us help put up the Museo de Peñafrancia and Center for Marian Studies! (Msgr. Rodel Cajot)

Although not written by apostles, the Apostles’ Creed reflects the theological formulations of the first century church. The creed’s structure may be based on Jesus’ command to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In a time when most Christians were illiterate, oral repetition of the Apostles’ Creed, along with the Lord’s Prayer and the Ten Commandments, helped preserve and transmit the faith of the western churches. The Apostles’ Creed played no role in Eastern Orthodoxy.

Around A.D.180, Roman Christians developed an early form of the Apostles’ Creed to refute Marcion. Marcion believed that Jesus revealed, in contrast, a good God of love and mercy. For Marcion, then, Jesus was not the Messiah proclaimed by the prophets. They affirmed that the God of creation is the Father of Jesus Christ, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, was buried and raised from the dead, and ascended into heaven, where he rules with the Father. They also affirmed belief in the Holy Spirit, the church, and the resurrection of the body. Candidates for membership in the church, having undergone a lengthy period of moral and doctrinal instruction, were asked at baptism to state what they believed. They responded in the words of this creed.

The Postulants will have an 8-day Holy Retreat at Mater Ecclesiae Formation Center; these are pre requisites before entering the Novitiate Stage. The Aspirants will also have their 3-day Holy Retreat before entering Postulancy. The Clothing and Investiture will be on February 2, on the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus. The DM Sisters are actively helping the Basilica through the different activities and tasks given to them, as Marian Congregation, they ought to propagate the devotion to Mary in their different apostolate and in their way of life. “Many are called but few are chosen”.

They are also inviting young women 18 to 30 years of age, high school graduate, and college graduate or college level to attend the Vocation Search –In, every 2nd Sunday of the month at the Pre Novitiate House. For more information, call at 478-69-00 or 0929869887 Sr. Marianne P. Diaz, DM, Vocation Directress.(Sr. Jessica Militar, DM .