Making Our Mother of Perpetual Help known

LOGARTA

In the LAW Center, Inc. program, “Sa Mata sa Kababyen-an” at CCTN, Rev. Fr. Glenn Tito Pascual, CsSR, and Dr. Madrileña de la Cerna of the Publicity Committee spread the word regarding the Visayas Congress to celebrate the 150th year the Icon of the Our Mother of Perpetual Help (OMPH) was entrusted to the Redemptorist congregation.

With questions from program hosts, Atty. Virginia Palanca-Santiago and Ms. Fe Tamayo-Cabatingan, the discussion started with the significance of the devotion to OMPH for female devotees. On Wednesdays, we observe women flocking to Redemptorist Church. Alay Kapwa members living in the Pier Area with their limited income even come all the way for this novena. And we see them praying intently, pouring out their concerns. They have written these in their petitions and they have come full of faith and trust in Our Lord and His Mother. At the end of the novena Mass, they come close to the altar for the blessing still with simplicity and humility. Their problems find solution here sooner or later, but for this moment they have found solace through their earnest praying. Thanksgiving letters reveal actual physical cure due to the devotion.

Fr. Tito also revealed the relief experienced in the sacrament of reconciliation; the Redemptorists have made themselves very available through regular confession schedules. These are opportunities for the women to kneel humbly in acceptance of whatever their role have been in giving rise to their problems. For both females and males, confession can be of assistance in a very concrete way. If the priest in the confessional realizes that the person who has approached the sacrament can benefit from their counseling or legal services, she/he may be referred to these services. In the program, the viewing audience was informed of the Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous sessions held in the Redemptorist Parish. So if one of the causes of violence against women and their children is addiction, spouses can be urged to join these sessions. But even if they merely kneel or sit in silence and gaze at the icon, devotees can be soothed.

The Redemptorist Parish supports women in their effort at economic empowerment. They have assisted women by providing seed money, space and, of course, regular encouragement in setting up a cooperative. They have also provided busy women with child care support with the setting up of day care centers for the children.

The Congress is meant to deepen and expand the devotion to OMPH through the discussions of the history of the devotion in the Philippines, an analysis of the novena texts and a historico-anthropological perspective of Marian devotion; there will also be testimonies from a Redemptorist missionary, a teacher-seminarian and a couple who will share “The Story of Mary in Our Family.” All throughout the Congress days there will be beautifully planned and culturally appropriate liturgy. Moments for serene gazing at the Icon are also scheduled.

Madz also talked about the showing of short films on the theme “The Filipino as a devotee of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.” Cebu participates in this international contest.

The interaction included an explanation of an important feature of the Congress — the discussion of “Debo(mi)syon.” Starting with our personal devotion to OMPH, we move forward. Having experienced healing and enriching, we look deep into ourselves, we try to discover what we can now offer and share with others. Graced by the devotion, we can explore ways by which we can creatively contribute in the mission of the Redemptorists and the building of authentic Christian communities.