Healing of family, other wishes prayed during Walk with Mary

CEBU, Philippines - “Life of faith is a walk in which you have a starting point and a culmination point.”

This was how Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma described “Walk for Mary,” a foot procession for Mother Mary that an estimated 5,000 Marian devotees joined in yesterday.

The procession, organized by Association of the Children of Mary Immaculate – Vincentian Marian Youth and the Archdiocesan Council of Cebu for all Marian devotees, was in celebration of Mother Mary’s birthday today.

In a mass after the procession, Palma reminded those present that life starts with God, as it is sacred, and also ends with God.

“God is the beginning and as we walk, there are ups and downs….  The Walk for Mary is also a walk with Mary, in which during the procession, we walked on a high and low ground,” Palma said.

He said each of us should also walk with one another as we are our our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.

“We are just instruments in reminding someone, but it’s God who gives you what you want,” he said.

The walk started at 4:30 a.m. from the Cebu Provincial Capitol grounds and was followed by a Eucharistic celebration at the Archbishop’s Palace at 6 a.m.

During the walk, devotees carried with them lit candles and replicas of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the Sto. Niño; they also prayed the rosary and sang songs of praise.

A 46-year-old mother from M. J. Cuenco Avenue, Cebu City, who declined to be identified, said she has been praying that her family would not break up after she suspected her husband of having an affair.

She brought with her a two-foot image of the Holy Child that she had with her eight years already.

“Unta hikapon sa Mahal nga Birhen iyang kasing-kasing nga sa iyang pagpanglangyaw apil ko sa nitabang niya.  Unya karon mura na lang siya ug wala kaila nako nga iya kong asawa,” she said, referring to her husband.

Geline Velasquez, 56, of Barangay Ermita, Cebu City, has been attending the procession for eight years already to fulfill a promise after she was cured of her disease.  Another devotee, Florencia Flores, 69, of Barangay Guadalupe, also joined the procession to pray for good health and guidance.

Aside from candles, the devotees brought with them bundles of joy and cash as offering to the less fortunate. The gifts also served as birthday offering to Mother Mary. (FREEMAN)