CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Biennial National Convention for 2019 of the Confraternity of the Holy Cincture and of Saint Rita of Cascia (Hermandad de la Correa y de Santa Rita de Cascia); also called Hermandad, will be conducted here on May 24-27, in coordination with the Archdiocese of San Fernando and the Santa Monica (Pampanga) Chapter.
The convention will be an opportune time for the national participants to undergo spiritual formation and at the same time be given the opportunity to visit and explore Pampanga, a statement from the Archdiocese said.
It was learned that aside from the convention, there will be pilgrimages to the different parish churches in Pampanga where the major relics of Saint Rita (from her Augustinian belt and bones) will be brought by the delegates.
In Sasmuan town, there will be an enshrinement of the relics of Saint Lucy and a grand Augustinian procession will be held at the Santa Rita Parish.
In his message to the local chapter, San Fernando Archbishop Florentino G. Lavarias gave his full support to the Hermandad and enjoined the local members to promote Roman Catholic devotion and to participate in the Church’s works of charity.
The Hermandad is a canonically constituted public association of the Catholic faithful. It is affiliated to the Order of the Discalced Augustinians as its Secular Third Order. It was founded in May 12, 2011 with its General Seat at OAD Tabor Hill, Cebu City and has currently nine chapters and a junior affiliate spread across the country.
The confraternity that fosters devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of the Cincture and of Consolation, to Saint of the Impossible and Desperate Cases, Saint Rita of Cascia – by promoting her gospel values through piety, exemplarity and apostolate and to the holy mother Monica as the model of perseverant prayer.
The members strive to live the virtues of charity, humility, purity of intention, prayerfulness and spirit of gratitude. Also, the members nourish themselves with the Sacraments of the Holy Mother Church, the Word of God and the Augustinian spirituality specifically with that of the Order of the Discalced Augustinians (OAD).
The Confraternity is composed of ‘San Nicolas de Tolentino’ Chapter (Batanes), ‘Santa Monica’ Chapter (Pampanga), ‘Virgen de Fatima’ Chapter (Ormoc City/Leyte), ‘Virgen de Guia’ Chapter (Mambajao, Camiguin Island), ‘Virgen de la Consolacion’ Chapter (Cebu City Northwest, Mandaue City and Cebu North), ‘Virgen de la Luz’ Chapter (Brgy. San Vicente, Butuan City), ‘Virgen de la Paz’ Chapter (Nasipit, Agusan del Norte), ‘Virgen de los Dolores’ Chapter (Cebu City Central & Cebu South), ‘Virgen de Regla’ Chapter (Lapulapu City/Mactan), and the Cofradia de la Madre del Buen Consejo (Junior Affiliate).
