Nueva Era hosts 99th Diocesan Christ the King

The procession of Christ the King 2024 Photos by John Lei Medrano

Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte—Thousands of Catholic devotees from the entire province of Ilocos Norte joined and participated in this year’s Diocesan Christ The King 2024 held at Mary Mother of the Church Mission Station in Brgy.  Uguis, in this town on Nov. 24, 2024 with the theme: “Iti Daytoy a Tawen Iti Kararag, Kibinen Natayo Ni Maria, Ina Iti Simbaan A Mangnamnama Iti Kaasi Ni Kristo Rey Nga Ari”.

“Napalaos iti pinagyaman mi kadakayo amin nga immay nagatendar iti daytoy nainsantoan a Kristo Rey ditoy a nanumo nga ili mi kangrunaan na ditoy nain-gasatan a Brgy. Uguis, Nueva Era numan pay adayo a kuna tayo ken kangrunaan na man ti Apo tayo a Namarsua ta inikkan natayo iti gundaway a nangsangaili kaniyana ditoy lugar tayo ket aglaplapunusan ti ayat ken ragsak iti marikrikna mi ita gapu iti kaadu yo nga immay nagatendar ken iti kumpleto a parokya ken padi iti probinsiya tayo nga idadauloan ni Bishop Renato Mayugba ken dagiti nadumaduma a mangidadaulo iti simbaan tayo ken dagiti lideres iti probinsia tayo,” Nueva Era          mayor Aldrin R. Garvida said being this year’s Christ The King “hermano mayor” 2024 with Nueva Era vice mayor Caroline Arzadon-Garvida and their family.

Garvida likewise thanked the Diocesan of Laoag for the Decree that the Mary Mother of the Church Mission Station is now considered as a quasi-parish which is equivalent to a Parish, or a certain community of the Christian faithful of a particular church entrusted to a priest as its proper pastor.

Diocese of Laoag Bishop Renato Mayugba hands over the certificate of appreciation to Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida and Nueva Era vice mayor Caroline Arzadon-Garvida for being this year’s Christ the King hermano mayor.

The Mary Mother of the Church Mission Station will serve the Brgys. Barangobong and Uguis in Nueva Era and the nearby Brgys. Camanga, Madupayas and Nagrebcan in Badoc, Ilocos Norte.

The mayor also thanked the Ilocos Note Police Provincial Office (INPPO) headed by provincial director Police Col. Frederick Obar for handling the peace and order situation and the traffic routes, as he also acknowledged the help and support of the barangay officials and tanods for helping visitors and attendees.

Barangay Uguis is situated at the easternmost and southern part of Nueva Era near Ilocos Sur and the boundary of Badoc.

It was also learned that the Mary Mother of the Church Mission Station is a newly built church constructed by the local government unit headed by Garvida with the “help and sacrifices” of the people of Nueva Era.

The said church was just completed year in preparation for the Christ The King celebration as the people of Nueva Era felt so eager to hold the celebration believing more blessings that will come in from the Almighty. 

“Ket sapay la kuma ta iti mabiit a panawen ket malpas to metten daytoy kumbento a pagyanan ni apo padi ken tay pagyanan tay kampanilya’ baben met laeng iti tulong ken pinagkakysa dagiti kakailian a tag Nueva Era,’’ the mayor added.

The area was surrounded by beautiful green mountains which is a refreshing sight and relaxing, according to the devotees. They  also lauded the “very hospitable” people of Nueva Era despite the very short period of preparations.

Earlier, thousands of pilgrims joined and witnessed the Pastoral Visit of His Grace Most Rev. Charles John Brown D.D., the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines and the church blessing of the newly constructed and established Mary Mother of the Church Mission Station on June 24, 2024.

The lot where the church was erected was donated by the municipal government of Nueva Era while the funding for the construction of the church came from donations from stakeholders through the initiative and full support of the Garvida couple.

The church was inspired by the octagon-shaped Beatitudes in Israel.