CEBU, Philippines – Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma urged the thousands of Marian devotees who attended this year’s “Walk for Mary” to join church-based organizations or movements that would show their love for the Blessed Mother.
Palma, in his sermon yesterday after the procession, asked the attendees, who were mostly students from different schools in Cebu, to give importance to church-groups or movements where they can show their love for God.
“Kining tanan to glorify and thank God for giving Mama Mary as our mother,” Palma said.
The procession started by 4:30 a.m. at the Cebu Provincial Capitol grounds and ended at the St. John Paul II grounds at the Archbishop’s Palace.
After the procession, Palma led the solemn mass with other priests from the Archdiocese of Cebu and religious congregations.
“Mama Mary loves us, the Walk for Mary is an invitation for us to realize her rule in Christian life, a reminder that if we want to grow in Christian life we have a devotion to Mama Mary,” Palma said.
“Pagtuo maoy gipasigarbo and thanks to the Lord for the gift of faith and we should recognize the Lord in many ways, and we are with Mary to speak the goodness of the Lord,” Palma added.
During the walk, devotees brought with them candles and images of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Also, for the first time after a number of years since the first Walk for Mary started, three carrozas with images of the Blessed Virgin Mary joined the procession.
Soc Yares, the regional adviser of the Children of Mary of the Archdiocese, said the carrozas of the Blessed Mother include the apparition of Mary to St. Catherine of Laboure.
“Sister Catherine is the Daughter of Charity. Siya ang gipakitaan ni Mama Mary ug siya usab ang gitagaan ug responsibility to organize the Children of Mary around the world.”
Yares is planning to invite more Marian devotees next year and expressed gratitude to all devotees who joined the Walk for Mary this year.
Songs were also presented after the mass with a birthday song offered for the Blessed Mother whose birthday is on September 8.
A small pin of the Blessed Mother was also distributed to the devotees who joined the solemn procession and the mass. — Rowena D. Capistrano of BANAT News/ATO