The image of Our Lady of Lourdes in Cabetican, Bacolor, Pampanga has finally been brought out for veneration after a few weeks of careful restoration.
Back in 2023, people, especially residents of the barangay where the image is revered, expressed regret after the over 100-year-old sculpture was taken out for encarna or repainting by an unknown artist.
While the encarna did not affect the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is venerated at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, or the Sunken Shrine of Cabetican, people lamented how the image was treated without considering its heritage.
As the Archdiocesan Committee on Church Heritage of Pampanga said on Friday, Oct. 3, the ‘well-loved image [.] has now been restored to how it should have been,’ pointing out the need to preserve the image’s historical integrity and spiritual significance.
Based on the website Pintakasi, the devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes in Cabetican started in 1906, when the image was brought by the people, carrying her on their shoulders while on board a native banca.
The church, which was buried by volcanic ash and subsequent lahar flows after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991, is now led by its rector, Rev. Fr. Fernando David, while the image was restored by Capampangan artist Joseph Magcalas.