THE SANTÍSIMO Rosario Parish launched a petition for the episcopal coronation of the image of Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario de la Universidad de Santo Tomas during a Mass for the parish’s 84th anniversary on Saturday, March 21.
Members of the Cofradía de la Virgen del Santísimo Rosario de la Universidad de Santo Tomás, parishioners, and Thomasian faithful signed a petition to the Archdiocese of Manila and Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula to grant the Marian image the distinguished honor.
An episcopal coronation is a formal recognition of a local bishop or archbishop to a Marian image, acknowledging the significance of the image and the faithful’s fervent devotion to the Blessed Mother.
In his homily during the Mass, the parish priest, Fr. Glen Mar Gamboa, O.P., said the devotion to the UST image is not merely a tradition but a “living relationship.”
“Ang Mahal na Birhen ay hindi lamang bahagi ng ating tradisyon. Siya ay ang ating ina at guro. Hindi lamang ito paggunita sa isang petsa (anniversary), kundi pagdiriwang ng isang buhay na pananampalataya, pag-asang kumikilos at pag-ibig na naglilingkod,” Gamboa said.
The petition highlighted the Thomasian community’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin, describing her as a “refuge and light” who guides the faithful to Christ.
“Noon pa man, kasama na ang Mahal na Birhen sa lahat ng pagsubok ng mga estudyante at ng mga manananampalataya sa pumapasok dito. Nais po namin na makilala ng archdiocese ang debosyon na ito,” Gamboa said in an interview with the Varsitarian.
The Mass was concelebrated by College of Education regent Fr. Art Vincent Pangan, O.P., and Graduate School of Law regent Fr. Dexter Austria, O.P., the attached priests of the parish.
Origins of Santísimo
The parish was canonically established on March 21, 1942, by Manila Archbishop Michael O’Doherty, an American, who took shelter at the Dominican residence in the University during World War II.
O’Doherty entrusted the parish to the Dominican community of UST and the community to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Most Holy Rosary.
“Hindi nadaig ng digmaan ang pananampalataya. Sa halip, lalo pa itong tumibay sa pamumuno ng mga Dominikano at pakikiisa ng mga laiko nang ang simbahan ay maging kandungan ng pag-asa at pag-ibig,” Gamboa added.
On Sept. 29, 1942, the image of Our Lady of La Naval was transferred to the University chapel, after its home at the old Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros was destroyed by Japanese warplanes.
The image stayed at the chapel for 12 years before being relocated to the new Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City on Oct. 10, 1954.
It was only then that the original centuries-old Santísimo Rosario image, first venerated in Intramuros, was enshrined at the main altar.
The parish fiesta was set for the first Sunday of October, to make way for the La Naval Feast at Santo Domingo Church on the second Sunday of October.
Since 1942, the parish has had sixteen parish priests, from Fr. Emiliano Serrano, O.P., the first, to the incumbent pastor, Gamboa. With reports from Yuvshenka Andrea R. Osea
