Venice Diocesan Council of Catholic Women at 111 Tropicana Drive, Punta Gorda , FL 33950 US - OUR LADY OF PEACE AND GOOD VOYAGE   IS BLESSED AT ST. MAXIMILIAN KOLBE.

The original statue was carved and blessed in Acapulco Mexio and from there the new Governor General of the Philippines took it to Manila in 1626 aboard the El Almirante, where it was placed in the Jesuit church of San Ignacio.  Upon the governor's death, the JEsuits became custodians of the statye and it was taken to Sana Cruz.  Accordeing to tradition, the statue disappeared at least twice from the church and each time was found in the branches of the ripulo (breadfruit tree).  A church was built near the site and the tree was cut down and made into a pedestal for "The Brown Virgin"  The name "tioulo" prefixed by the Tagalog article "ang" forms the name "Antipolo" .



Not only is the "Birhen ng Antipolo represented at the largest Roman Catholic Church in the United STates, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. but now as of July 18, 2009, there is a wonderful waterfountain shrine at St. Maximilian Kolbe in Post Charlotte, Fl.  Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyale, has become the symbol of Filipino-American Cantholic fatith and devotion to the Blessed Mother, forever the symbol of Phillipino-American culture here in the United States, may she guide our continuing journey through life.

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