Holy Cross Nabua renews ‘tipan,’ celebrates parish day

By Elmer Registrado

Nuestra Señora de Katipanan or Our Lady of Covenant is the primary patroness of the Holy Cross Parish of Nabua, Camarines Sur, and in the month of July, Nabueños commemorate the “tipan” or covenant which their ancestors made with her 314 years ago.

A devotion endemic to the people of Nabua, their “tipan” to the Blessed Virgin Mary was established in 1711 when in the midst of a natural destruction their ancestors made a pact with the image of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception that if they are spared from the earthquake they will tell of her miraculous work and every year thereof will celebrate her feast as Our Lady of Katipanan. Thus this celebration likewise becomes parish day for the faithful of Nabua.

Originally, its feast day was celebrated on the 28th day of July until after the establishment of Our Lady of Katipanan Parish in Paloyon, Nabua, Camarines Sur. However, it was acted upon to declare July 28 as the feast day of the titular patron of the parish in Paloyon hence the parish of Holy Cross decided to celebrate its parish day every last Sunday of July.

This year’s parish day celebration is extraordinarily noted  because it coincides with the  observance of the Jubilee Year of Hope. And that amidst the many challenges the people of Nabua had such as typhoons, flooding, and other calamities, they still embrace their faith and hope in God and Inang Katipanan and that makes them move forward and be resilient.

Fr.  Albert S. Orillo, parish priest of Holy Cross, extended his heartfelt gratitude to all the stakeholders who lent their hands in making the National Youth Days celebration a success. A short program initiated by the Parish Pastoral Council Executive Board together with the Barangay Pastoral Councils was done early in the afternoon of July 27. During the said short program, Apostolic Certificates were awarded to foster families who opened their homes as safe dwelling places of pilgrims during the National Youth Day in Caceres.

Bishop Emeritus of Virac, Manolo Delos Santos was the main celebrant during the Tinagba Concelebrated Mass. Among his co-celebrants were Rev. Father Manny Zagada, formator at Holy Rosary Major Seminary; Fr. Andrew Recepcion, School Director of Collegio Filipino in Rome, Italy; Fr. Joseph  Abion, parochial Vicar; and Fr. Orillo, the parish priest.

In his homily, Bishop delos Santos expressed how the Holy Cross Parish and the municipality of Nabua had become a part of his priestly formation. He narrated his experience and immersion with the people of barangay Bustrac and Lourdes Young during his early years as a priest.

Bishop Manolo was very thankful because after more than thirty years of being a bishop in Virac, it is only now that he was given a chance to celebrate Holy Mass in Holy Cross Nabua – the hometown and parish of his successor Bishop Louie A. Occiano. Within the Holy Mass, the municipal mayor Hon Fernando Simbulan of Nabua led the renewal of covenant to Our Lady of Katipanan. The covenant was translated to Rinconada dialect so that it may impact deep appreciation, understanding and practice.

TINAGBA PROCESSION

The tinagba is part of the “tipan” made  by the Nabueños ancestors. One of their promises to Inang Katipanan is to offer part of their ‘harvest,’ whether as agricultural products or their earnings during parish day.

Year after year this is actively participated by the 17 barangays of the parish. Likewise, institutions such as the Nabua Central Pilot School, Saint Jude Thaddeus Learning Center, and the Local Government Unit of Nabua among others also participated during the Tinagba procession.

All products offered were gathered at the Parish Pastoral Function Hall and were properly segregated for distribution. Recipients for this year’s Tinagba proceeds are the Preparatory seminary in San Jose, Holy Rosary Minor Seminary, Holy Rosary Major Seminary, Daughters of Mary Congregation, and the Missionaries of Charity (Gift of Love) in Naga City.