Pililla Shrine holds first “indakan” in honor of patroness

The Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Mary Magdalene in Pililla, Rizal held its first “Indakan sa karangalan ni Sta. Maria Magdalena” (Dance in honor of St. Mary Magdalene) as a tribute to their patroness on May 22.

Held after the evening Mass, the “indakan” was held around the parish with Shrine Rector Fr. Alfredo Meneses, Jr., and hundreds of devotees.

Gracing the new festivity, the first “callejara” or for street procession image of the patroness was commissioned with the help of the Cofradia de Sta. Maria Magdalena and devotees.

Bearing the medieval symbols attributed to the patroness – the book (representing the Gospel), the whip (representing repentance), the skull (representing humility) and the cross (representing commitment to Christ) – the devotees danced from the church towards the barrios of near the town center.

”This is a remarkable opportunity for the faithful here in Pililla as the shrine strives to expand its efforts to make the patroness known here in the town and around the Diocese of Antipolo,” Meneses said.

In August 2018, the shrine started the monthly processions and home-to-home visits of the patroness after the parish was declared a shrine on July 22, the saint’s feast day.

Since then, efforts have been made to develop the programs for promoting the devotion and introducing the patroness to different parishes.

On June 22, as part of the Antipolo pilgrimage practice, the shrine will hold the “Indakan ni Sta. Maria Magdalena sa Antipolo” for the annual “Ahunan” tradition, or the visits made by parishes and devotees to Our Lady of Antipolo at her national shrine. 

The diocesan shrine is one of the oldest parishes in Rizal, under the Diocese of Antipolo. It is also the second oldest Magdalene church in the country and is intensifying its efforts to promote devotion to the penitential character of Mary of Magdalene, the “Apostle to the Apostles”.