COFRADIA de la VIRGEN de la SOLEDAD de PORTA VAGA, Inc.

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About COFRADIA de la VIRGEN de la SOLEDAD de PORTA VAGA, Inc.

NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LA SOLEDAD DE PORTA VAGA
Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga, reputed to be a relic of Spain, is a painting of the Virgin Mary framed in carved wood. The relic is said to have been discovered, beached on the shores between the old Puerto Vaga in Cavite City and Barrio San Roque during the 18th century. The painting, presently set in gold, silver and precious gems, is also known as the "Virgin of a Thousand Miracles" and Cavite’s “Queen of the Galleon” because of many miracles granted to the faithful devotees from the day of its discovery to the present.

La Celestial Guardiana y Protectora de la Provincia de Cavite y Su Puerto
La Virgen de la Soledad de Porta Vaga, the patroness of the Province of Cavite, has been the refuge of the immortal spirit of the Caviteños for three centuries now. The center of the people’s religious life is their precious “Queen” --- the secret sanctuary of every “true Caviteño”.

Tradition tells us that one stormy night centuries ago, while a spanish sentinel was on watch at a sentry post called garita located at the end of the isthmus of rosario, a dazzling apparition rose from the turbulent waters of Cañacao Bay. Startled and alarmed with suspicion that it could be Moslem pirates, the sentinel shouted: “Alto! Alto!” as the light flowed toward him. A sweet and melodious voice inquired instead why had he not recognized Maria and told him to let her pass. The guard was awed and humbly knelt at the Lady.

The morning after, a framed image of the Virgen de la Soledad was found lying in the shore, close to the spot where the Virgin appeared the night before. People surmised that it came from the debris of a Spanish galleon that sank during the fierce typhoon. They brought the image to the parish priest who temporarily installed it in the parish church.

Through the years, so many stories were told about the arrival of the image of the Virgin in the shores of Cavite. Numerous researchers have also attempted to give a definite date of her arrival.

An inscription was found at the back of the painting, “A doze de Abril 1692 años Juan de Oliba puso esta Stsma. Ymagen Haqui.” This inscription says that “this sacred image was placed here on April 12, 1692 by Juan Oliva” but it does not clearly tells us the exact date of the Virgin’s arrival. It is possible that it is the date when the Virgin was enthroned at the altar of the Ermita de Porta Vaga in the 17th century. Devotees of the Virgen de la Soledad were not satisfied in placing her in one of the seven churches of Cavite Puerto. They decided to build for her the Ermita de Porta Vaga, a small chapel near the gate of the Porta Vaga, the fortlet guarding the entrance to the Puerto de Cavite. For three centuries, it became the shrine of the Virgin.

Countless miracles have been attributed to the Virgen de la Soledad. Her mysterious apparition and the unexplained arrival of her image were initial revelations of her miraculous reign. During the terrible typhoon in 1830, a fire caused by lightning bolt hit the wooden altar of the Ermita and razed the chapel to the ground, but the image of the Virgin remained intact among the ashes. In 1856, another terrible typhoon flooded the houses, churches and public buildings within the Puerto but the Ermita, as well as its patio were found dry so the people took refuge in the Church. In 1857, a Spanish frigate based in Cavite was caught by a violent typhoon off the coast of Albay and was stranded for 20days, after running aground. The crew prayed before an image of the Soledad. She appeared before them that night and the tide rose higher and the wind began to blow, thus releasing the frigate free from its rocky trap. There have been other miracles attributed to the Virgin with the passing of the years including present day accounts of healings, families reunited and family problems solved.

In 1929, a new parish priest, Fr. Pedro Lerena y Lerena of Logrono, Spain, was assigned to the Puerto. At the same time, he was appointed Rector of the Ermita. His great dedication to the cause of the Virgen de la Soledad saw the beautification and the improvement of the Ermita through the years. During the Second World War, Fr. Lerena was able to retrieve the precious image of the Virgin from a junkyard where it was thrown by the Japanese invaders and brought it to the Archbishop’s Palace in Intramuros, Manila and later to the vaults of the Philippine National Bank for safekeeping. It was brought back to Cavite only after the liberation in 1945, this time to her home at the San Roque church because the Ermita was destroyed by Japanese and American forces. Until his death in 1972, Fr. Lerena served as the guardian of Cavite’s priceless treasure.

Through the joint efforts of Msgr. Baraquiel Mojica, the deceased former parish priest of San Roque, and Bishop Felix Perez, Rome approved the petition for the canonical coronation of the image of the Virgin. Shje was solemnly crowned on November 17, 1978 by the Most Rev. Bruno Torpigliani, DD, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines.

On March 16, 1984, the image of the Virgin was sacrilegiously stolen from her altar. After tedious months of search, it was recovered on August 15, 1984, divested of all its gold decorations and precious stones. Every effort was made to restore the image of the Virgin to its former glory. The golden trimmings and the precious stones have now been replaced.

The devotion to the Virgen de la Soledad de Porta Vaga is the crowning glory of the Caviteños faith and religiousity. In it are interwoven their rich and colorful history that has spanned three centuries. Since her arrival, the image has been linked to a strong fortress that symbolizes a great heritage, she has been the symbol of that solid inner strength sustaining her people.

HER COFRADIA





The COFRADIA DE LA VIRGEN DE LA SOLEDAD DE PORTA VAGA has been established in the year 1998 through the dynamic leadership of the late + ANTONIO G. NAZARENO of Cavite City. Today it is supported by its hundreds of members working together for the strengthening of the devotion to the Virgen de la Soledad, the Queen and Patroness of the Province of Cavite. The Cofradia is presently lead by its newly elected President, Bro. Jonnel ryan I. Enriquez and Spritual Director, REV. FR. VIRGILIO SAENZ MENDOZA.They are supported by the other seven newly elected officers and past officers who work hard to keep the devotion alive not only in Cavite but in all parts of the globe.

WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES?
1.The Confraternity will give glory to our Lord God, Jesus Christ. To be closer to Jesus thru His Mother, Mary. That thru Mary, we will fittingly honor our Lord.
2.To promote and propagate the devotion to our Lady of Solitude.
3.As Our Lady of Solitude is depicted in a contemplative and meditative mood during the evening of that first Good Friday, so too should the COFRADIA spur its membership to strive to become more prayerful in their daily lives.
4.To assist in the needs of the Shrine of Our Lady of Solitude.
5.Like our Blessed Virgin represented by our Patroness in Solitude and Solicitude, the Cofradia will reach out to that segment of our Society who are alone, abandoned, dejected and rejected.

WHO CAN BECOME MEMBERS?
Persons of either gender, whatever nationality or civil status maybe admitted provided:
1.At least 18 years of age.
2.Must be a Roman Catholic.
3.Must enjoy a good name in the right Christian sense.
4.Must be a devotee of the VIRGEN DE LA SOLEDAD DE PORTA VAGA.

HOW CAN ONE BE ACCEPTED?
1.The person who wishes to become a member must be recommended by 2 members of the confraternity.
2.He is to be presented to a board which will inquire into his or her knowledge of the Blessed Mother, of Jesus and of his own religion.

WHAT IS THE ORGANIZATIONAL SET-UP?
The general membership will elect among themselves a core group of eight officers – THE CORAZON – during the month of May (Mary’s month). The seven officers will be composed of the following:

1.President: He will head the organization; has the right to call for a special meeting. He will represent the organization. He will steer the confraternity to a course of growth.
2.VP For External Affairs: He will assist the President on matters that concern the organization and those outside the organization. He will take over if the President is incapacitated.
3.VP For Internal Affairs: He will assist the President on matters purely within the organization.
4.Secretary: He will take minutes of proceedings. He will submit minutes of all meetings and he will keep records of meetings, correspondence and other pertinent documents.
5.Treasurer: He will keep monetary records and will faithfully submit financial reports to the membership. He is expected to be a conscientious guardian of the funds of the organization.
6.Recorder: He will maintain a record on the growth of the organization as well as the membership.
7.Auditor: He will audit the financial report submitted by the Treasurer of the organization. He is expected to be thorough and without bias in his duty.
8.PRO-Public Relations Officer: Among his duties, He is to gain understanding and support from devotees as well as to influence opinion and behavior.

WHO LOOKS AFTER OUR SPIRITUAL NEEDS?
There will be a Spiritual Director who will look into the spiritual growth of the Confraternity. The Spiritual Director will automatically be the Bishop of the Diocese of Imus or any priest so designated by the Bishop. He will guide the Confraternity and its membership in matters, which are nontemporal in nature, especially in teaching members to be closer to Jesus thru Mary. He will also give direction and approval to the outreach programs of the Confraternity. His suggestions on the disposition of the funds of the organization will be given due regard and importance.

WHAT ARE THE MEMBERS’ DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE CONFRATERNITY?
The members are obliged:
-To contribute an offering for the membership fund. (Lifetime membership fee is collected upon joining the group)
-To lead an upright Christian life.
-To attend all general meetings.
-To attend the funeral of a deceased member of the Confraternity.
-To comply with the objectives of the Confraternity.
-To comply with all that is prescribed in the statutes as well as decisions of the general meeting.

WHAT ARE THE MEMBERS’ DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE SOLEDAD and HER SON?
-To attend religious functions during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
-To contribute an offering for Mary’s Fund. Mary’s fund will be used solely for the propagation of the devotion to the Soledad.
-To assist in the SOLEDAD procession of good Friday.
-To assist in Her annual feast in November.
-To attend an annual Spiritual Exercise or Retreat.
-To honor the date APRIL 12 – the date of the enthronement of the VIRGEN DE LA SOLEDAD DE PORTA VAGA as Patroness of Cavite, even in a private and personal manner.
-To be actively involved in the propagation of the devotion to our Blessed mother of Solitude.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS AND RIGHTS OF A MEMBER?
-To vote and to be elected to any of the position within the CORAZON during the May elections.
-To attend, be heard and exercise his right to vote in all general membership meeting. Any group of at least seven members may call for a special meeting.
-To wear the insignia of the Confraternity especially during processions and other religious functions.
-In case of illness, to ask for the assistance of the Confraternity, both spiritually and financially.

DO WE HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR FELLOWMEN?
1.Strive to be an exemplar.
2.Assist in the ministry of the Confraternity by knowing how to console, comfort and sympathize with people who are in a state of sorrow, bereavement and solitude so that the members may fully comprehend not only the pain and the sorrow that Our Lady experienced when she lost Her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, but also Her Fiat, her submission to the will of God.