Mission and Goal of the Cofradia
a. To sanctify its members and their families through the devotion to Santo Niño, a sincere practice of their faith, frequent reception of the Sacraments, charitable works and social apostolate;
b. To help promote and propagate the devotion to the Holy Child Jesus throughout the Philippines, that our people may receive the graces they need to preserve and keep vital the Catholic faith in our country;
c. To promote mutual assistance and cooperation among the membership of the Cofradia;
d. To engage the Cofradia in religious and civic community activities, for the upliftment of our people. The various Chapters may further include other specific objectives in their Statutes, consonant with the objectives of the Cofradia.
Appendix
As a means to achieve its objectives, the Cofradia has adopted a general program of activities and practices which will be followed and implemented by all Chapters, with allowance for the circumstances of place and the available facilities. Each Chapter may add other activities and practices proper to the place, provided they are in consonance with the nature and objectives of the Cofradia.
I. Celebrations and Devotions
a. Feast of Santo Niño
The annual feast in honor of Santo Niño will generally be celebrated on the third Sunday of January and will mark the highlight of the yearly activities of the Cofradia. Consequently, no efforts will be spared to make this celebration a success. Ideally, the celebration ought to be held in close relation with all other activities of the Cofradia.
b. Commemoration of the discovery of the Image
The commemoration of the discovery of the image of Santo Niño will be celebrated on April 28 with appropriate religious, social and civic activities.
c. The Perpetual Novena
Attendance to, or recitation of, the Novena every Friday will be mandatory for every member of the Cofradia.
d. The “Visita Domiciliara” (Home Visit)
The objective of this traditional practice of the Cofradia is to strengthen the devotion to Santo Niño within the family, as well as to foster inter-family relations in the sharing of the same devotion.
e. The Town visit
The Town visit is designed to bring the devotion to Santo Niño to the people in order to awaken and strengthen their faith and devotion and to prepare the way towards establishing new Chapters of the Cofradia everywhere in the country.
Only those Chapters commissioned by the National Directorate will undertake this project. These chapters will formulate the guidelines and directives to carry out the program subject to the approval of the National Director. They will present to the National Directorate an annual report on the Holy Visits under taken. Only the Manila Chapter is commissioned to undertake the Holy Visits in Luzon area.
f. The Pilgrimage to the Santo Niño Shrine in Cebu
The Pilgrimage to the Santo Niño Shrine in Cebu is highly commendable for both the individual members and the Chapters.
II. Social Actions
Excellent as they are and commendable, the purely spiritual and devotional objectives would hardly justify the function of a Cofradia in our time, given the social consciousness and concern of the Church. For this reason, the Cofradia del Santo Niño must explore ways and means itself ever beneficial to our people as regards their welfare and their urgent needs. In particular, and in honor of and service to the Holy Child, the Cofradia will place special emphasis on sponsoring and providing aid to social and charitable institutions for children, such as orphanages, hospitals, refuge training center, etc., channeling every year some of the available funds for these purposes, even as each members is hereby enjoined to take to heart this most laudable form of help to the children of God who need assistance.
III. Procedures in forming and/or Organizing New Chapter:
1. A letter of application signed by no less than thirty (30) persons who had signed their willingness to be active members of the Cofradia is to be sent to the National Directorate, together with:
a. a written recommendation from the parish priest in whoe parish the chapter will have the headquarters;
b. the propose statutes and by-laws; and
c. a propose budget to meet the financial obligations.
2. Upon the approval of the organizations of the Chapter, the Petitioners become members of the Cofradia.
3. An appointment of the Fr. Director should be sought from the Major Superior of the Augustinians in the Philippines.
4. Elections for members of the Board and Executive Officers should follow at an scheduled date.
5. The oath-taking of the newly elected Officers and the enthronement of the Santo Niño image in the headquarters of the Chapters should take place with certain solemnity and festivity. It is suggested that the National Director be invited to the occasion. He may delegate this honor to another.
b. To help promote and propagate the devotion to the Holy Child Jesus throughout the Philippines, that our people may receive the graces they need to preserve and keep vital the Catholic faith in our country;
c. To promote mutual assistance and cooperation among the membership of the Cofradia;
d. To engage the Cofradia in religious and civic community activities, for the upliftment of our people. The various Chapters may further include other specific objectives in their Statutes, consonant with the objectives of the Cofradia.
Appendix
As a means to achieve its objectives, the Cofradia has adopted a general program of activities and practices which will be followed and implemented by all Chapters, with allowance for the circumstances of place and the available facilities. Each Chapter may add other activities and practices proper to the place, provided they are in consonance with the nature and objectives of the Cofradia.
I. Celebrations and Devotions
a. Feast of Santo Niño
The annual feast in honor of Santo Niño will generally be celebrated on the third Sunday of January and will mark the highlight of the yearly activities of the Cofradia. Consequently, no efforts will be spared to make this celebration a success. Ideally, the celebration ought to be held in close relation with all other activities of the Cofradia.
b. Commemoration of the discovery of the Image
The commemoration of the discovery of the image of Santo Niño will be celebrated on April 28 with appropriate religious, social and civic activities.
c. The Perpetual Novena
Attendance to, or recitation of, the Novena every Friday will be mandatory for every member of the Cofradia.
d. The “Visita Domiciliara” (Home Visit)
The objective of this traditional practice of the Cofradia is to strengthen the devotion to Santo Niño within the family, as well as to foster inter-family relations in the sharing of the same devotion.
e. The Town visit
The Town visit is designed to bring the devotion to Santo Niño to the people in order to awaken and strengthen their faith and devotion and to prepare the way towards establishing new Chapters of the Cofradia everywhere in the country.
Only those Chapters commissioned by the National Directorate will undertake this project. These chapters will formulate the guidelines and directives to carry out the program subject to the approval of the National Director. They will present to the National Directorate an annual report on the Holy Visits under taken. Only the Manila Chapter is commissioned to undertake the Holy Visits in Luzon area.
f. The Pilgrimage to the Santo Niño Shrine in Cebu
The Pilgrimage to the Santo Niño Shrine in Cebu is highly commendable for both the individual members and the Chapters.
II. Social Actions
Excellent as they are and commendable, the purely spiritual and devotional objectives would hardly justify the function of a Cofradia in our time, given the social consciousness and concern of the Church. For this reason, the Cofradia del Santo Niño must explore ways and means itself ever beneficial to our people as regards their welfare and their urgent needs. In particular, and in honor of and service to the Holy Child, the Cofradia will place special emphasis on sponsoring and providing aid to social and charitable institutions for children, such as orphanages, hospitals, refuge training center, etc., channeling every year some of the available funds for these purposes, even as each members is hereby enjoined to take to heart this most laudable form of help to the children of God who need assistance.
III. Procedures in forming and/or Organizing New Chapter:
1. A letter of application signed by no less than thirty (30) persons who had signed their willingness to be active members of the Cofradia is to be sent to the National Directorate, together with:
a. a written recommendation from the parish priest in whoe parish the chapter will have the headquarters;
b. the propose statutes and by-laws; and
c. a propose budget to meet the financial obligations.
2. Upon the approval of the organizations of the Chapter, the Petitioners become members of the Cofradia.
3. An appointment of the Fr. Director should be sought from the Major Superior of the Augustinians in the Philippines.
4. Elections for members of the Board and Executive Officers should follow at an scheduled date.
5. The oath-taking of the newly elected Officers and the enthronement of the Santo Niño image in the headquarters of the Chapters should take place with certain solemnity and festivity. It is suggested that the National Director be invited to the occasion. He may delegate this honor to another.