Our Lady of China of Iloio - The Mother of Iloilo's Filipino Chinese Community

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Our Lady of China of Iloilo City
In the progressive Iloilo City in Iloilo, with a long historical link with the Chinese community since the early years in our history, it wasn't until the 1950's that Virgin of their homeland would arrive, under difficult circumstances, that was proven to be providential to the Filipino-Chinese community of the Hiligaynon City. Under the mantle of Our Lady of China of Iloilo, she guided her children, regardless of race, for she is the Mother of all nations, as His Son is the King of All Nations.

The image

Though her robes be pagan, she belongs to every age, to all people and to every race. The image of Our Lady of China in Iloilo is a standing figure of Madonna and Child wearing the Oriental style of clothing from the Imperial Chinese Court, the yellow traditional dress with colorful trimmings, the diagnostic hairdo of a Chinese noblewoman, the bald Child Jesus, and the sinitic eyes of both Mother and Child which gives with a mixture of a strong willed yet motherly impression.

The Original image of Our Lady of Dong Lu,
Empress of China
The origins of the devotion

The devotion to Our Lady of China began during the dark times of Chinese history. In April 1900, When the Boxer Rebellion broke out, nearly 10,000 hostile soldiers attacked the small impoverished mission village of Dong Lu (near Peiping), home of 700 - 1,000 Christians and founded by Vicentian fathers. The Virgin Mary appeared as a beautiful lady in white in the sky surrounded by light. The soldiers, in senseless rage, started to shoot into the sky. Then suddenly they fled, frightened, and never came back again when a fiery horsemen - perhaps St. Michael - chased the attackers out of the village. The Chinese pastor of the village, Father Wu, had prayed for Our Lady's intercession.

In thanksgiving for Our Lady’s protection, a beautiful church was built in her honor. It was meant to serve as a constant reminder to the people of Mary’s loving and motherly protection.

The modern painting of Our Lady of China
The priest secured a painting of the Dowager Empress Ci Xi, the long time ruler of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, dressed in imperial robes.He commissioned an artist to use it as the background for the image of Our Lady holding the Christ Child. The picture was hung above the altar in the Church of Dong Lu, which eventually became a famous place of pilgrimage starting in 1924. That same year, Shanghai Synod of Bishops in China, the first national conference of bishops in the country, chose this image to be denoted as "Our Lady of China" or "Our Lady Queen of China". People began coming to the shrine. Following the event, Archbishop Celso Costantini, Apostolic Delegate in China, along with all the bishops of China, declared the Chinese people dedicated to Our Lady of China, using the official image.

The Church has not issued an official judgment of the apparition at Dong Lu. Pope Pius XI's establishment of the church as an official Marian Shrine constitutes implicit approval. In 1941, Pope Pius XII designated the feast day as an official feast of the Catholic liturgical calendar. Following the Second Vatican Council, the Chinese Bishops conference, upon approval from the Holy See, placed the feast day on the vigil (day preceding) of Mothers Day (the second Sunday of May).

Santa Maria Parish, Iloilo City
The devotion in Iloilo

The Santa Maria, Our Lady of China Parish in Iloilo City is by far, the only Chinese Catholic Parish in Iloilo City. It started way back in 1953 when the Chinese Jesuits first arrived from mainland China. The Chinese Jesuits were expelled from China due to the Communist takeover. Since their arrival, they began their apostolic work among the local ethnic Chinese community as a continuation of their missionary work in Mainland China. With the relentless support of the Iloilo Filipino and Chinese communities, the Santa Maria Parish under the patronage of Our Lady of China was established by Rev. Fr. Guerrino Marsecano, SJ, an Italian Jesuit Missionary.

As the parish grew, the Jesuits began accepting students for kindergarten until it grew to become Ateneo de Iloilo - Santa Maria Catholic School. While the school was relocated to its current site, the parish has remained and became a center of pilgrimages in Iloilo.

The devotion
Our Lady of China of Iloilo City


The devotion to Our Lady of China in Iloilo grew over the past decades since it's  establishment. The Jesuits continued to administer the needs of the Chinese and Filipino-Chinese community in the city. Masses in the Parish is said in English and Chinese pin yin. The feast of the Virgin of China is celebrated every Second Sunday of September.

As we conclude this blogpost dedicated to the Virgin of China, here a prayer dedicated to her for the conversion of the Chinese people to the true faith.

Hail, Holy Mary, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ,Mother of all nations and all people.You are the special heavenly Mother of the Chinese people. Teach us your way of total obedience to God's will.Help us to live our lives true to our faith. Fill our hearts with burning love for God and each other.Stir up in our youth an unconditional giving of self to the service of God.

 We call on your powerful intercession for peace, reconciliation and unity among believersand the conversion of the unbelievers in China and throughout the world, for God's mercy is our only hope.

 Our Lady of China, Mother of Jesus, hear our petitions and pray for us. Amen.

References:

Our Lady of China, Retrieved from http:/ /www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/approved_apparitions/donglu/index.html on February 4, 2019.
Santa Maria Parish, Retrieved from https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/Attraction_Review-g298466-d15191495-Reviews-Santa_Maria_Parish-Iloilo_City_Iloilo_Province_Panay_Island_Visayas.html on February 4, 2019.

Photos:
Galera, Carl of Pitik Ilongo
Santa Maria Parish Facebook page

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