MARY, Mother of Life

BY: NINO A. CALAMBA, RN


The Archdiocesan Council of the Lay Apostolate and Integrated Movements (ACLAIM) with its President, Dr. Michael T. Manalaysay, inspired by the Holy Spirit and powered by the loving grace and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary staged for the third time an archdiocesan grand Marian procession. This year’s grand Marian procession of the Archdiocese of Davao was once again faithfully joined by various religious and prayer communities in Davao City. The Mary Immaculate Health & Educational Foundation sponsored the “Our Lady of Salvation” together with the generous hearts of Mr. & Mrs. Emilio and Marilou Yap and Family.

The Grand Marian Celebration last May 28, 2011 with the theme: “Mary, Mother of Life” commenced with a conference at the Holy Cross of Davao College Gym. Reverend Father Luigi of the Franciscan Order discussed the essence of Mariology or the study of Mary on the life of a Christian faithful. Mary as the mother of Jesus Christ is our mother too. The love and respect given to her by Jesus must be manifested within us also. As Jesus said on His Crucifixion to his disciple, “Behold your Mother!”. We are disciples of Jesus Christ and we ought to render sincere veneration to His’ and our Mother too.

The grand Marian procession was a way of evangelizing the faithful people of the different roles of Mama Mary in the Church. These are images depicting Mother Mary’s stalwart leadership as the head of all disciples. The display of Mama Mary’s images is not a form of idol worship hence it is a way of remembering the Mother whom our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ loved so much. “It’s just like keeping a photo of our parents and loved ones in our wallets whom we hold so dearly in our hearts,” said Professor Espie Chinel Aparis, Founder & President of the Mary Immaculate Health & Educational Foundation and ACLAIM Vice-President. The veneration to the Blessed Virgin Mary is a show of love and respect to her son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

The grand Marian procession culminated with a Holy Mass at the San Pedro Cathedral with an enlightening homily from Archbishop Fernando Capalla. Some priests in the archdiocese concelebrated in the Eucharistic Celebration with Msgr. Paul A. Cuison. Msgr. Paul Cuison expressed a message of thanksgiving to the faithful people before the final blessing and said, “your participation to the grand Marian procession was so awe-inspiring! Let us all become a replica to the beauty of Mama Mary inside and out”.