Feature: Our Lady of Namacpacan, local pilgrimage destination

By Monette H. Herrera

Wednesday 1st of February 2012

Christian devotees from the neighboring towns and provinces of Luna, La Union flock to Our Lady of Namacpacan hoping to experience a miracle like some of the townspeople here.

One of them is Rosa Roldan who was born lame. She claimed that Our Lady came to her home and made her walk. She was then 13 years old.

Also, according to stories among townfolks, a group of indigenous people came down from the highlands in response to a request from a beautiful “Seniora” who appeared to them to go to Luna. She asked them to be baptized and to kiss the sacred image of Our Lady.

In the year 1950, the townspeople were surprised by the radiance of a light emanating from the statue of Our Lady, filling the whole church with its brilliance.

Since then the devotion to Our Lady grew such that it was not uncommon to see the town plaza full of wooden ‘carousa’ or float every 24th day of November--the feast day, which marks the arrival of Our Lady in the town. She was canonized by Pope John XXIII’s in November 24, 1959.

The statue of Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Namacpacan is situated at the Northern portion side of the Church so that devotees may easily view it upon entering the church, Rev. Father Manuel Rahil of Our Lady of Namacpacan Church said.

Today, the Spanish period church has become a popular pilgrimage destination. (ANL/MHH PIA1 La Union)