President Luis Abinader led this morning the official act of the centenary of the coronation of the Virgen de la Altagracia, which occurred on August 15, 1922 at the Puerta del Conde.
While the envoy of Pope Francis, Edgar Peña Parra, warned about the ideological colonization that is sowing anti-values that seek to dismantle the family.
“With deep devotion and with an act of gratitude, I want to fulfill the request made to me by Monsignor José Dolores Grullón, bishop emeritus of San Juan, in his capacity as president of the organizing commission of the national celebration of the centenary of the coronation of the Virgin of la Altagracia”, said President Abinader.
“We do not forget that, in this same historical place, a day like today a hundred years ago the Virgin of Altagracia was crowned, with a crown made by notables with the garments donated by the devotees.”
He said that yesterday’s devotion is the same today because Dominicans remember how the Virgin of Altagracia has been and will continue to be our protector throughout the centuries.
The president stressed that in many houses there is an image of the Virgin of Altagracia, the one who intercedes before God to favor her children.
The head of state stated that he had intervened in the act in compliance with the request made by José Dolores Grullón, in his capacity as president of the organizing commission, to pronounce brief words on the centenary of the coronation.
The procession left Parque Independencia bound for the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium of the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center, for the solemn closing celebration of the jubilee year, which ended after noon.
He moved along George Washington Avenue, followed by Máximo Gómez Avenue, until reaching his destination where thousands of parishioners gathered designated by each parish to participate in the acts.
The pilgrimage was led by Monsignor Francisco Ozoria, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo; Pope Francis’ envoy, Monsignor Edgar Peña Parra; Monsignor Octavio Cisneros, Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn and the Vicar of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo, Abraham Apolinario.
The rosary began in the Cathedral where the parishioners were on vigil since last night. He made a stop at the Sanctuary of La Altagracia, on Calle Hostos with Mercedes.
Throughout the journey to the Puerta del Conde, where the Virgin was crowned in 1922, dozens of parishioners, the music bands of the Navy, the Firefighters and members of the First Army Brigade of the Dominican Republic participated.
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«The Catholic Church celebrates this Monday, August 15, the centenary and canonical coronation of the Virgin of Altagracia and the closing of the Altragracian Jubilee Year, with a large national gathering at the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, starting at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow until 12:30 p.m.
In the act of the Puerta del Conde, President Abinader also spoke; José Dolores Grullón, president of the organizing committee; Mayor Carolina Mejía; the president of the Constitutional Court, Milton Ray Guevara and the one sent by the Pope, Edgar Peña Parra.
The act began with the arrival of the president with the intonation of the National Anthem, performed by the Music Band of the Dominican Navy and the rigorous military honors of the 21 gunshots.
President Luis Abinader arrived at 8:06 in the morning with his wife, the first lady Raquel Arbaje.
Vice President Raquel Peña; Senate President Eduardo Estrella; the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco, and other personalities paid honor guard to the sanctuary.
Yesterday, Sunday, some 300 servants of 2,500 commissions of parishioners, directed through the Episcopate Conference, worked busily putting the final touches on the logistics of this important religious event of international importance, which is headed by Monsignor Francisco Osoria Acosta, of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo, together with Jesús Castro Marte, bishop of the Diocese of Nuestra Señora de Altagracia in Higüey, and Monsignor José Dolores Grullón, bishop emeritus of San Juan de la Maguana, among others.
The historic act began yesterday with the tour of the image of La Virgen de la Altagracia, from the Basilica of Higüey, the Cathedral and other points, before reaching the Olympic Stadium.
At the close of this edition, the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium was full of devotees of the Virgin of La Altagracia, participating in the Eucharist presided over by Peña Parra.
