Devotees flock to the pilgrim image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
contributed photo
Prelate calls on devotees to translate love for Mama Mary into action
Every devotee, a missionary.” This theme ran through the talks and activities of the recently concluded Visayas Congress of Our Mother of Perpetual Help held last Feb. 16-18 at the Redemptorist Church in Cebu City.
“Translate love for Our Mother of Perpetual Help into action” was the call of Cebu’s Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Florencio.
A response to this call came as early as the late 1960s by the Redemptorists in the form of poverty alleviation, Malou Guanzon–Apalisok of Cebu Daily News and Coop TV, pointed out.
She narrated how the late Fr. Flan Daffy, CSsR, established in the Redemptorist parish of Tacloban City what is now a highly successful cooperative.
In his analysis of the novena texts to Our Mother of Perpetual Help (OMPH), Fr. Ramon Echica, SThD, dean of studies of San Carlos Seminary, noted that the texts not only express the devotees’ humble admission that they are dependent on God, but also “emphasize the social dimension of the Christian faith.”
Fr. Ino Cueto, CSsR, SThD , who is the director of the St. Alphonsus Theological Institute, spoke on “Debo(mi)syon.” He emphasized the devotion as “mission-al” and mission as “devotion-al.”
“The devout is intensely touched by his/her experience glimpsed through the Icon of God Who is encountered in prayerful pleas and heartfelt gratitude and the desire to reach out and serve others not in his/her own terms but in the service of God’s mission” – fullness of life.
Mr. Bob and Mrs. Delia Baniel, OMPH devotees and Focolare members, shared the story of Mary in their family, how her belief in God’s will and love inspired them to love their children unconditionally and be compassionate to whoever they encounter. /PR