In honor of the Queen of the Rosary

MANILA, Philippines - A year after the groundbreaking on a rainy day in Oct. 7 last year, the 71-foot statue of our Lady, Regina Rosarii, Queen of the Rosary was finally inaugurated on a sunny day. The Holy Rosary feast day started with a dawn rosary. Most Rev. Gabriel Reyes, DD, Bishop of Antipolo was the main foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains in Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal, hundreds of devotees and mission partners of the Dominican Sisters of Regina Rosarii witnessed the happy occasion. The day was bright with the setting sun. The cool wind was blowing strongly. Several parish priests and the Dominican Fathers led by Rev. Fr. Quirico Pedregosa, OP, Prior Provincial of the Dominican Fathers, concelebrated Mass with the good Bishop.

After the Mass, the blessing of the Adoration Chapel, the Sanctuary of Universal Love and Devotion followed. It has the Ilongo acronym SULOD, meaning enter or inside. It is a very fitting description of a Dominican tradition of the special love of our Lady who keeps those who pray to her under her mantle of protection. Sulod is a special place. The wooden cross is depicted as an absence presence or an emptiness and fullness piece of art. Jose Barcena Jr. the sculptor artist of the 71-foot statue of our Lady is no longer a best kept secret among the community of artist. He is now a name with a face.

Our Lady Regina Rosarii is radiant with light. Her smiling face is an invitation to take a breath of fresh air and have hope in our world of noise, haste and waste. After viewing Sulod, the devotees, mission partners and benefactors of the Dominican Sisters of Regina Rosarii, tried walking on the labyrinth that was lighted by 800 scented candles.

Regina RICA is now open to the public from 8 to 6 p.m. daily except Tuesday. Rosary is said at 4 p.m. Sunday Mass is celebrated at the Kakahoyan, the woods at 11 a.m. For details, call 0919-359-4961, 4012036/9853878 or log on to www.reginarica.org.