Badoc’s miraculous Madonna has found a home in Europe, reported CBCP News on May 26, 2019.
The small village of Obereisesheim in Germany has become the first officially declared place of devotion to “La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc” outside the Philippines.
In a Mass presided over by Bishop Renato Mayugba of Laoag on May 25, a three-feet replica of the Patroness of Ilocos Norte was enshrined in the Christuskirche of Obereisesheim, under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart.
Hundreds of Filipinos and German devotees from various parts Germany attended the solemn event, including some Filipino priests coming from Germany, Italy, and the Philippines.
During the Mass, the Bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart was represented by the Very Rev. Siegbert Denk, the Dean for the Deanery of Heilbronn and Neckarsulm.
Bishop Mayugba brought with him the Rector of the Basilica of Badoc, the Very Rev. Freddie Astudillo and Laoag’s Diocesan Chancellor, the Very Rev. Rey Magus Respicio.
The Embassy of the Philippines in Berlin was represented by Consul Bong Villanueva.
The solemn enthronement was organized by Filipino Migrants who compose the Catholic Group named Divine Mercy Prayer Group headed by Elsa Quintero-Agatep.
Agatep hopes the church will be flocked by pilgrims as they seek the help of Our Lady.
Bishop Mayugba is in Europe these days for the recently concluded six-day “Visita Ad Limina” of the first set of Philippine Bishops to Pope Francis.
During an audience, the Bishop of Laoag gave an image of Apo Badoc to the pope as a sign of gratitude for granting the Pontifical Coronation of the Lady of Badoc and the elevation of her church into a Minor Basilica.
Earlier last week, “La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc” was presented to hundreds of Filipino Migrants at the Basilica di Santa Pudenziana and the Church of St. Gabriel Archangel at Cortina d’Ampezzo in Rome.
Last March, Bishop Mayugba has also gifted Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki, Japan with a replica of the revered La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc.
