“Mary Mediatrix’s time has come! It’s time to approve the Lipa apparitions as true!” Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Colin Bagaforo said during the Mass of Thanksgiving at the Mary Mediatrix Chapel at the Carmelite Monastery in Lipa City, Batangas, last Aug. 14.
Speaking to concelebrants Bishop Guillermo de la Vega of Digos, Davao del Norte, and Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of Jaro, Iloilo, and 100 other priests, Bishop Bagaforo related how he was healed by Mary Mediatrix when he developed nodules in his thyroid.
He said when he went back to San Juan de Dios Hospital for treatment, the sister told him, “Bishop, bad news. We cannot bring back the nodules we removed! The good news is that there is no cancer!”
Free retreat for priests
The Mass was part of the free retreat attended by at least 100 priests at the Franciscan Capuchin Retreat House in Lipa, Aug. 11-15. Retreat was sponsored by the Confraternity of Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace.
Also attending the Mass were Ambassador to the Vatican Mercy Tuason, Nena Prieto of the Renena Benedicto Prieto Foundation and Bro. Ramon Moreno of the Healing Ministry for the Sick.
Beatification cause
The Missionary Catechists of St. Therese in Tayabas, Quezon, are preparing for the 125th birth anniversary on Aug. 29 of Servant of God Alfredo Maria Obviar. Thousands of pilgrims are expected to flock to Tayabas, where Obviar died as bishop and where his remains have been interred at the chapel of the cathedral.
Before Tayabas, Obviar had been auxiliary bishop of Lipa during the Marian apparitions there.
Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales will celebrate Mass at 10 a.m.
Obviar’s remains have been transferred to the altar of the chapel.
Mother Rene Rarela, postulator for the cause for beatification of Bishop Obviar, is here from Conversa in Bari, Italy, where the MCST, a congregation founded by Obviar, does its mission of evangelization.
She told us that she is gathering testimonies of miracles wrought by God through the intercession of Bishop Obviar.
By the way, the MCST celebrated the 25th year of its presence in Italy last July 10. Sisters came from Sweden, Switzerland and Africa for the retreat given by Fr. Bong Luistro, SSS, who’s the grand nephew of Bishop Obviar.
Comatose patient awakes
Michael Jess Bernardo, a member of the Works of the Saints Apostolate, told Mother Rene how Bishop Obviar interceded for a dying person so he could receive the last sacrament.
Fr. Gerard de Villa, OSB, was called to attend to the patient, but the latter was already comatose. The Benedictine said he prayed to Bishop Obviar and placed the Servant of God’s estampita beside the head of the comatose man.
Suddenly the patient woke up and the priest was able to hear his confession and administer the anointing of the sick.
The patient eventually died, but not before he was absolved of his sins and anointed.
For testimonies of miracles, e-mail Mother Rene Rarela at [email protected]. Her contact number while she’s in the country is 0905-3485325.
She goes back to Italy on Aug. 31.
Those who want estampitas of Bishop Obviar can write to me c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer, Chino Roces Ave., Makati City. Please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelop for easier mailing.
Marian seminar at UST
The Missionaries of Mary will hold a Marian Encounter seminar that will focus on the many concerns that confront the family today on Aug. 31, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Tan Yan Kee Student Center, University of Santo Tomas.
Topics are: “Mary and the Holy Family” (Fr. Quirico Pedregosa Jr., OP, rector of the UST Central Seminary); and “Family Consecration and Total Consecration of One’s Self to Mary” (Fr. Omer Prieto, parish priest of the Holy Family Parish Church in Project 8, Quezon City).
Fr. Aloysius Aliño, parish priest of the Sto. Niño Shrine in Bago Bantay, QC, will talk on the “Culture of Life and Death,” about the negative effects of divorce, euthanasia, abortion and total population control.
Fr. Louie Coronel, OP, will be the Mass celebrant.
The seminar is done in partnership with Radio Veritas (846 AM). Seminar fee of P150 includes lunch and snacks.
For further information, contact the Missionaries of Mary at tel. 7438729.
La Leche fiesta
In observance of Breastfeeding Month, Our Lady of La Leche Movement and Latch Breastfeeding Advocates have organized a medical mission on Aug. 30 at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Mariveles St., Mandaluyong City.
The mission is exclusively for infants of up to 2 years old, and for pregnant and breastfeeding women. It will be conducted starting 10 a.m.
Highlight will be the Eucharistic celebration at 8 a.m. in honor of Our Lady of La Leche, the breastfeeding Blessed Mother and patroness of mothers and mothers-to-be.
The presiding priest will give a special blessing to pregnant and childless women, as well as to mothers and their babies.
San Beda exhibit
Catch Antonino Raymundo’s Mother and Child sculptures and paintings at the “Bedan’s Cast art exhibit” at the San Beda College in Alabang Hills until Aug. 31.
