Davao joins 100th year celebration of Fatima apparitions

Thousands of Marian devotees flocked to 6 parishes in the Archdiocese of Davao last February 4 to 8, 2017 to see and venerate the World Apostolate of Fatima (WAF) – Philippines pilgrim image from Fatima, Portugal. Receiving the image is also the local church of Davao’s way of celebrating the centennial anniversary of the 1917 Fatima apparitions.

THE MOTHER OF OUR LORD VISITS US

“How beautiful it is that the Mother of our Lord visits us,” exclaims Fr. Henry Campeon, the spiritual director of the Fatima apostolate in the Archdiocese. “Malipayon kaayo ug salamat kaayo nga daghan ang mitubag. Taas kaayo ang iyang convoy daghan pud ang mga tao. Davao City Marian gyod na siyudad,” Fr. Henry exuberantly shares how he feels about the reception.

Sr. Jessa Omega Cabahug from the Mary’s Little Children Community (MLCC), one of those who came to welcome the pilgrim image at the airport, first thought that only a few were around. But when the motorcade started she was amazed at the long convoy accompanying the pilgrim image to its first stop at the San Pedro Cathedral and the large crowd of Marian devotees lining up the streets, welcoming the pilgrim image and waving flags.

“It feels like the Blessed Virgin Mother is really here”; “I had goose bumps”; “I was crying.” These were just some of the reactions of those who came.

Sr. Mercy Abraham, RJM says, “I feel very happy. Mama Mary will bless all of us.” Her congregation, the Religious of Jesus and Mary, has a special devotion to Jesus and Mary and because of that their founder reminds them not to do everything without Mary.

Fr. Campeon recalls the visit of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. Her visit brought joy and love to her family. In Elizabeth’s joy she exclaimed how blessed Mary is among all women. During the welcome ceremony before the Mass on February 4, the same exultation was echoed by the faithful.

He says that it surely was a significant gathering for the Blessed Mother visited us, which reflects her great love for our archdiocese. In his homily, Fr. Campeon emphasized Mama Mary’s virtue of obedience to God’s will.

TIMELY VISIT

“How beautiful it is to have the blessed mother in this time where our mercy is confronted by our hatred. Can we hear her words to pray and to sacrifice for sinners? Nothing happens by chance. The blessed mother must come to give us a message. We will listen to her within the depths of our hearts,” Fr. Marbendear Morallas shared in his reflections during the cenacle prior to the Mass in San Pedro Cathedral, February 4.

The message of Our Lady of Fatima exhorts the faithful, to pray for sinners and their conversion, and to offer penance.

Fr. Morallas says that “Mary is working hard to bring about the salvation wrought by Jesus Christ. Mary is working hard to tell us “please remember the sacrifice of my son. Do no throw it away. Please remember the blood and sweat of my son. He wants to bring us towards the mercy of God.”

Another challenge posed by the Fatima is to look at the realities of the world through the motherly eyes of Mary. “Can we say as a devotee of Mary are we capable of looking at our brothers and sisters through the motherly eyes of Mary? ,” Fr. Morallas asks.

“Si Mama Mary kanunay nga nagpunting kang Jesus. She always leads us to Jesus. In our devotion, atong sundugon ang panig-ingnan sa atong mahal nga Inahan,” Fr. Dexter Veloso says during his homily at his parish in Bangkal, February 6.

PARISHES IN FULL FORCE

The first church visited by the pilgrim image was the San Pedro Cathedral on February 4. Crowning of the pilgrim image was held after the communion prayer and floral offering followed the final blessing. At 3:30 in the afternoon, Marian devotees went for a penitential walk with the pilgrim image as it visited another parish, the Our Lady of Fatima Parish Church, where it stayed overnight. The anticipated Mass was followed with the same activities. Then another penitential walk was held as it visited the Sta. Ana Parish Shrine in Sta. Ana Avenue on the following day, February 5, where it also stayed overnight.

On February 6, a motorcade was en route to Our Lady of Lourdes in Bangkal. The Immaculate Conception Parish in Mintal received her on February 8 and its last stop in the archdiocese was in Sto. Rosario Parish Church in Toril. From there, a motorcade accompanied the pilgrim image to the first church in the Diocese of Digos, St. John Paul Sub-Parish, Inawayan, Sta. Cruz then to St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Sta. Cruz, where the first mass was held at 5 pm.

During the visit, the devotees were given a chance to venerate the international pilgrim image, to listen to a Catechesis about Fatima, to pray and hold vigils, to have brown scapular investitures, and to join in penitential walks. Prayer cards were also given away.

This visit in Davao was in line with the 100th year commemoration of Mary’s apparition in Fatima which was made possible through the partnership of WAF – Philippines and the Archdiocese of Davao. For more information, log on to www.waf-phils.com. For live streaming of the Holy Masses, like DXGN 89.9 Spirit FM-Davao FB page. (Nena Quijano | Cheryl Vilog)