MANILA, Philippines - Cavite marked the groundbreaking ceremony of the Oratory of the Blessed Virgin Mary, now called Our Lady of MonteMaria. It will have 33 storeys, reaching all of 101 meters to become the world’s tallest religious statue, befitting Mary’s role as the Mother of God of all people, the Mother of the World of all nations.
She will be our “Mama Mary of the Poor” — the poor in society, the poor in spirit, and the rich who love the poor.
The affair started with a Eucharistic Mass officiated by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales with Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle of Cavite, Bishop Pedro Arigo of Palawan, Bishop Antonio Palang of Mindoro, Fr. Francis Donnelly of Canada, Fr. Jeff Shannon, Fr. Javy Javines, Fr. Hector Bariel, Fr. Hector Arellano, 25 other priests and, of course, the great healer, Fr. Fernando Suarez.
The VIP-studded affair was graced by Gretchen Cojuangco, wife of business tycoon Danding Cojuangco, who donated the 125 hectares where the oratory will rise, presidential sister Viel Aquino, Greggy Araneta, Ambassador Joey Antonio, Congressman Arthur Yap, Jun Tambunting, Erik Tagle, Greg and Paz Monteclaros, Henry Sy’s family, among others. Also present were thousands of devotees of Our Lady of MonteMaria.
In Cardinal Rosales’ inspiring homily, he said that the key to heaven is not through St. Peter but through our acts of charity to the poor.
God gives a chance to everyone to be able to help; He gives us a thought and it is up to us to make the thought an act. Cardinal Rosales asked Fr. Suarez to allot one hectare of the land primarily for the needy and the poor, to which Fr. Suarez gladly obliged.
After the rites, guests were treated to a sumptuous lunch at Sonia’s Garden. Food from Andok’s was also distributed.
And then everyone witnessed a miracle. Mayor Sandy Javier, owner of Andok’s, told Fr. Suarez that he was going to the hospital as he was suffering from a slip disc. Fr. Suarez simply embraced him and his pain was gone.
Fr. Suarez, the great healer, states, “God simply wants to heal His people, for He is forever faithful and He desires to fulfill His promise from the very beginning that He will take away our infirmities and bear our diseases.”