Our Lady, Help Us!

After the limitations brought about by the pandemic were lifted, the faithful of Davao and nearby places were able to celebrate with great solemnity the 2023 Novena and Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel at the Carmelite Monastery of Davao, located along JP Laurel Avenue. The theme for this year’s Novena and Feast chosen by the Carmelite Nuns was “Mary, the Quiet Presence” focusing on her silent but unequaled witness to Jesus. In like manner, the Nuns invite the faithful and devotees to imitate her quiet witness by faithfully living the Gospel and their Marian devotion in ones daily life especially through wearing the Brown Scapular and living out its demands.

On the days of the Novena, two Masses were celebrated daily by various religious and diocesan priests, who by their experiences and exhortations inspired the faithful to make fervent their devotion to Mary under her title and Brown Scapular. During the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel last July 16, three Masses were celebrated in order to accommodate the crowd of devotees and pilgrims who annually come to Carmel for its feast.

The first Mass was presided by Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, DD, Archbishop of Davao, and concelebrated by Archbishop Emeritus Fernando R. Capalla, DD and Fr. Gil Casio of the Marists. His homily centered on several petitions addressed to Our Lady using the readings and liturgy of the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: (1) “to give us the grace to reject what is contrary, and to strive to make my faith strong and firm”, (2) “to take the Word of God and make it effect in our lives”, (3) “to trust that the sufferings of this life are nothing in comparison to the glory that is to be revealed”, (4) and “to trust in the wisdom of Christ… that He never tires sowing the seeds of Good News, mercy and compassion to all of us”.

The second Mass at 12 noon was presided by Fr. Willowyn Andaya, OCD, and the third Mass at 5pm that concluded the feast day celebrations in honor of Our Lady was presided by Most Rev. George B. Rimando, DD Auxiliary Bishop of Davao. After each Mass, numerous faithful held their Brown Scapulars to be blessed and imposed on them.

The Carmelite Nuns are thankful for the active and fruitful participation of the devotees, Secular Carmelites and other prayer groups. The faithful, together with Our Lady, assure that they will continue their silent apostolate of praying for the Church and the world. (Neil Christian Sator, LPT)