in order to shed themselves of the domination of the spaniards, the dominicans changed the national patronal feast day from Nuestra Señora de Mercedes to Nuestra Señora de Altagracia. consequently, they instituted a processional journey of the image through each diocese every year. since we have two parishes we get her for a couple of weeks. yesterday we picked her up - here we are in procession and entering the church:
