Thousands of Veraguas Faithful Gather for Traditional Pilgrimage

With deep faith, devotion, and hope, the Catholic community of Santiago once again celebrated the traditional pilgrimage this year. Father Oriel Concepción, of the Diocese of Santiago, highlighted that the participation of the faithful grows year after year, which demonstrates a strengthening of faith in the image of the Miraculous Medal among the population of Veraguas. Vladimir Hernández, a resident of Santiago, commented that every year “hundreds of people from all over the country and even foreigners who also profess the Catholic faith travel to Santiago to venerate the Mother of God on this special date.” The pilgrimage of the Miraculous Medal has become one of the most important religious expressions in Veraguas, uniting generations and keeping alive the traditions that have marked the spiritual identity of the province. Maintaining a tradition of over 70 years, thousands of the faithful in Veraguas gathered to honor the Virgin of the Miraculous Medal. The pilgrimage culminated with a solemn Mass in the Cathedral of Santiago, where believers gave thanks and made petitions to the Virgin. This is a religious practice that now exceeds seven decades and is part of the spiritual legacy left by the first evangelizers, the Pauline and Elizabethan Fathers, in this region of the country. “We observe how adults, young people, and children join this act of devotion.” For many inhabitants, the event has profound spiritual and cultural meaning. “Public institutions, private companies, and entire communities also participate, preparing and decorating their streets to accompany the procession,” noted the priest.