Every year the Sovereign Order of Malta in the Philippines holds in May a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, where members attend to the sick who come from different parts of the world seeking miraculous healing from Our Lady of Lourdes.
Stories of miraculous healings have been brought home by those who have been there. If any of you are sick now, you would want to go to Lourdes, France, and kneel before the image of Our Lady inside the grotto where canes and crutches hang along the walls from the crippled who were miraculously healed.
This year, the delegation from the Philippines was led by the ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the Philippines, Odelia Gregorio Arroyo.
Delegates were Dr. Jaime Lapus, vice president; Mina Carag Harada, hospitaller; Msgr. Esteban Lo, magistral chaplain ad honorem; members Ludette Banzon, Ado Escudero, Cecile Piñones; and family and friends of the members: Takashi Harada, Liza Viola, Mely Diaz, Margie Tolentino, Pilar Banzon and Cheska Banzon.
Serving the sick
Religious associations bring their “malade” (sick) not only for physical healing but for spiritual renewal. There were around 6,000 members and sick pilgrims from different countries this year. The two charisms of the Order are defense of the faith and service of the poor and sick.
In the Philippines, the Order has been serving the sick for 55 years. It distributes medicines, medical supplies and food supplements to the poor.
The Order is also active in disaster relief operations and rehabilitation. It has recently installed 100 single detached homes for victims of the floods in Iligan in Mindanao.
Praying 2,000 Hail Mary’s
Our Lady of Medjugorje Prayer Group has consistently been praying the 2,000 Hail Mary’s since 1997 every First Saturday of the month, to implore the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for healing or financial help or passing the board exams.
Prayer requests are texted to member Letty Zapanta (tel. 0918-5047810).
Members of the Our Lady of Medjugorje Prayer Group: Herminia A. Diana, Glace Bayron, Delia Abarca, Leticia Oaferiña, Dolores Joson, Flordeliza Rodriguez, Rita Ramensky Mejia, Emma Leuterio, Thelma Gadi, Melita A. Frias, Leticia E. Zapanta, Nena de Los Reyes, Josie Kalayaan, Emma P. Mabini, Lita Holt, Tita Madrigal, Beulah Arcega, Leticia Espina, Mely Villanueva, Mely Daylusan, Grace Salvacion and yours truly.
The praying of the 2,000 Hail Mary’s will be held July 6, 8 a.m., at the residence of Letty Zapanta in Queensrow, Bacoor.
How it started
It was in 1997 when the image of Our Lady of Medjugorje was brought to the country from Canada by Herminia (Min) Diana, a Canadian citizen, and formerly a resident of Queensrow.
She then introduced Our Lady to her friends and neighbors. The images of Our Lady of Medjugorje, Queen of Peace, The Divine Mercy and the Infant Jesus of Prague were brought from house to house where they stayed for a week or two depending on the request of the homeowner. The images visited the residents of Camella, Gardenia, Queensrow and other nearby subdivisions.
The group started with only nine members, but as time went by, it swelled in number. Starting with the Holy Mass, the group then would begin praying the 2,000 Hail Mary’s, which would usually end at 5 p.m.
In 2000, Fr. Paul de Leon, then parish priest of Our Lady Queen of Peace church, learned about the prayer group and recognized the devotion as part of the church’s official activities.
The new team ministry of Fathers Tony Roxas, Manny Colmenar and Teody Andres reaffirmed the recognition of the group as a parish-based organization.
Children’s choir to compete
Patrick Yap, assistant choir director of Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir (HMTQCC), said the group will compete in the 67th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for the 1st Children’s Choir of the World title, on July 9-14, at Llangollen, Denbighshire, North Wales, United Kingdom.
HMTQCC started in 1999 as a choral group serving the Immaculate Conception Parish in Cubao, Quezon City. The choir has been active in both local and international chorale scenes.
In 2004, HMTQCC joined the 3rd Choir Olympics in Bremen, Germany, and emerged as World Choir Olympic Champion in the Music of the Religions category.
At the 1st Asian Choir Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, HMTQCC got the gold medal in the Gospel and Spiritual categories in 2007.
HMTQCC was given the gold award in the Children’s Choir Category in the First National Choral Competition organized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2009.
Sta. Maria Goretti fiesta
Novena Masses are being held until July 5, 6 p.m., in honor of Sta. Maria Goretti Parish Church, at Pius Center in Ermita, Manila. The feast of the saint is on July 6.
A procession will be held along United Nations Avenue at 4 p.m. on July 6 after which the parish priest, Fr. Joey Bustillo, will celebrate Mass at 6 p.m.
The Community Solemn Mass is on July 7, 10 a.m., with Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle as main celebrant.
Marian pilgrimage
Chaplains and homilists have been tapped by Adam’s Express Travel to lead the roster of pilgrimages on the second half of the year.
Seven groups will go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Jordan and Egypt with extension to Dubai and Abu Dhabi; four groups on Marian pilgrimage that will cover Lourdes and Fatima and two Eastern Europe trips to the charming cities of Prague, Budapest and Poland.
The pilgrimages will be in August to November. Call Adams Travel at 5223876 or 5211651.