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SANTO DOMINGO.- Dominicans celebrate the day of their patron saint Lady of La Altagracia today, as thousands of people locally and from other nations flock to the Higüey (east) sanctuary in her honor.

Since Monday thousands of Dominicans have visited the La Altagracia Basilica, though the largest amount of devotees is expected today.

President Leonel Fernandez and many Government officials will attend the mass at 10 a.m., in keeping with the tradition of all Dominican chief executives.

The Emergency Operations Center and the Metropolitan Transit Authority have staged an operation to prevent traffic accidents, whereas Civil Defense volunteers have been deployed in strategic points along the major roadways.

And to attend the people who undergo injuries or accidents, 65 first aid stations will be installed throughout the eastern region, with the support of 24 ambulances.

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COMMENTS
10 comment(s)
Written by: Blutarsky This user is banned, 21 Jan 2010 8:49 AM
From: Dominican Republic, No Spin Zone
Drinking and driving is still a way of life in this part of the world ......Progress is slow .....death rates are high
Written by: Pepe32, 21 Jan 2010 9:50 AM
From: Dominican Republic
The official patrona of DR is La Mercedes!!

Written by: Ricardolito, 21 Jan 2010 10:24 AM
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
well actually this is the Dominican Republic where everything and anything is possible so we have two patron saints who are actually the same person in two different guises ..And according to my Dominican calendar we have two days to celebrate the Patron saint once in January and once in September.
Written by: snoopyy3k, 21 Jan 2010 10:50 AM
From: United States
The DR has two patron Saints. Our Lady of Highgrace and Our Lady of Mercedes. Each one seen at diferent intervals of Dominican history or so legend states.
Written by: xwill7, 21 Jan 2010 10:55 AM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
blu,
get your mamajuana out
Written by: josean, 21 Jan 2010 11:23 AM
From: United States, Dedicating 4 more years to fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia
Anybody knows if Episcopalian Jews also celebrate this holiday?
Written by: Pepe32, 21 Jan 2010 4:02 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Señores los títulos oficiales son PATRONA LAS MERCEDES y PROTECTORA La Altagracia.

Las Mercedes has been relegated to a second level except in el Cibao where Las Mercedes is still important.
Written by: riosm, 21 Jan 2010 4:43 PM
From: United States
WOW ! I lost count ! every Country has it's own version.
Written by: BASTA, 21 Jan 2010 8:01 PM
From: Dominican Republic, =Ghetto/Legalize Drugs
phssss voodoo dominican style
Written by: riosm, 22 Jan 2010 1:24 PM
From: United States
Basta,
From what I've been told the Catholic Church quietly under the table condoned Santeria which is a mixture of Catholicism and Voo Doo.

But then again all threw history the Church in order to UP membership has always BENT THE RULES of the Church.

I'm trying to remember the name of a book I read many years ago about the dark history of the church of Rome, TRULY SHOCKING.
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