Throughout the month of September, the parishes that are dedicated to Our Lady of La Merced have been preparing the celebration of their patron saint’s day, next September 24.
In some they have made the pilgrimage of the Virgin through the different communities that make up the parish; Others are preparing dances, songs and the solemn mass.
In the case of the Nuestra Señora de La Merced de Doñihue parish, Father Patricio Cavour highlighted that this year the celebration of its bicentennial will begin, on September 22, at 7 p.m., with the beginning of the Holy Year of La Merced, with the opening of the Holy Door, which will allow – under certain conditions – to obtain a plenary indulgence and the possibility of renewing the relationship with God and neighbor. The invitation is open to all who want to attend the parish temple on September 22.
For its part, the Parish of Nancagua has seen its celebration program greatly affected due to the storms. This is how the Virgin’s tour through the communities and also the traditional family cycle tour had to be suspended.
However, Father Robinson Piña emphasized that, for September 24, the day of the patron saint’s day, a whole day of celebrations is scheduled, which will begin at 6:30 a.m. with the Rosary of the Dawn. It will continue at 7 with the singing of the mañanitas and at 7:15 a breakfast to share. At 12 noon, there will be Sunday mass and at 5 p.m., the traditional procession; around 6 p.m., participate in a folk dance meeting; and at 6:30 p.m., the Holy Mass.
In the parish of Nuestra Señora de La Merced de Coltauco, despite having been strongly affected by the storms, Father Omar Canales reported that the patron saint’s day will begin at 11 a.m. on September 24, with the procession of the Blessed Virgin through the main avenues in the center of the commune; at 12 noon, the solemn Eucharist in the parish temple, to conclude at 1:30 p.m., with a tribute to the Virgin of La Merced, in the atrium of the temple.
In the Nuestra Señora de La Merced parish in Chimbarongo, Father Richard Muñoz pointed out that since August 31, the month of Mercedes has been celebrated in the parish, with Eucharists and prayer, as well as the tour of the image of the Virgin through the communities. On September 21, at 7 p.m., the Holy Mass will be celebrated by the senior clubs of the Chimbarongo commune.
On the 22nd, a meeting of pastoral agents and community with the Mercedarian provincial, Fray Mario Salas, is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. On the 23rd, at 5 p.m., there will be the traditional procession and the holy mass in the Peor es Nada chapel. On the 24th, also at 5 p.m., there will be a procession and holy mass at the parish headquarters.
Meanwhile, on September 28, at 7 p.m., the closing of the Month of celebration of the patron saint’s day will be held, with a Eucharist for the schools of the commune.
For its part, the Nuestra Señora de La Merced de Zúñiga parish began the pilgrimage of the Virgin on September 9 through the different communities, which will conclude on September 24, the day of the patron saint’s day, with a grand final procession to from 3 p.m. This will have floats that will leave the El Manzano chapel to the front of the parish temple, where the solemn mass will be celebrated.
Everyone is invited to pay tribute to the Virgin of La Merced.
