Mama Mary's visit

September of last year, the Acriche family ( Tet, Morris and their lovely children ) invited interested friends, neighbors and relatives , including us, to join them meet our Lady of Fatima during her visit to their home. For your information, the home visitation of Mama Mary is facilitated by the Heralds of the Gospel led by Brother Primitivo "Bong" Eublera with Almar Cabrera who can be reached at 253-4594.

During that visit a year ago, those of us who wanted to have Mama Mary visit our homes as well were asked to write our name, address and contact details. When I dropped our name into the box, I prayed to Mama Mary to come and visit us, if it was her will. I was realistic enough to accept, however, that the possibility of our name to be picked from among so many applicants was very slim.

Last week, I remember asking Mama Mary to help me understand why I needed to pray the Rosary. My full name is Maria Rosario and I confess to being unable to pray the rosary each day. I also have difficulty finishing all the mysteries of the rosary - I end up sleeping before I get to the end! I remember asking Mama Mary to please help me appreciate the Rosary and for me to get to know her more, especially as her special month of October was coming up.

You can therefore imagine the goose bumps I felt, was it last Friday, when I heard Brother Bong on the other end of the phone line telling me that our name had been randomly chosen, and that Mama Mary has chosen to visit our home, exactly a year after we met last at the Acriche home! And she chose to visit us on the evening of September 25th, on the birthday of our son, Karlo!

If you think that was a miracle, then read on please.

We had to borrow a van to make Mama Mary comfortable during her trip to our home as our own vehicle, we knew, would not be spacious enough to accommodate her, Brother Bong and others who would fetch her from Guadalupe. My husband, Orly, without hesitation, decided to go and ask Helen Adachi, our neighbor, for the use of her van. When they met, Helen herself had just returned then from Sto. Niño, after offering mass and prayers for the recovery and healing of her mom, Nang Dorotea and her Japanese in-laws.

During the actual Monday visit, Helen had goose pimples as well when she saw her mom, who was seated in a wheelchair, immediately in front of the image of our Lady of Fatima! Why? Helen was reminded that exactly a year ago, at about the same time last year, on the evening of September 25, her mom suffered aneurysm and was given only three months maximum to live! And here she was, alive, and praying before Mama Mary with her children and her neighbors!

Praise the Lord and Mama Mary for these miracles and answered prayers a year after! We have more to share about this special visit. Brother Bong beautifully explained the reasons and the context of the Holy Rosary and the Fatima apparitions.

Now I understand why Mama Mary wants us to pray the Holy Rosary fervently as frequently as we can. Let me share the continuation of this beautiful experience in our next column Saturday… Until then, may you also receive the joy and peace of the love and care of God and Mama Mary!

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