WALK FOR MARY 2017/SEPT.03,2017:Hundreds of devotees join the procession Walk for Mary from Capitol to Plaza Independencia.(CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
About three thousand Marian devotees joined the annual Walk With Mary starting from Fuente Osmeña circle to Plaza Independencia in Cebu City yesterday.
The procession, which began at 4 a.m., was organized by the Daughters of Charity and the Cebu Archdiocese. The devotees prayed the holy rosary as they walked the street of Osmeña Boulevard.
There were 20 carriages with various images of the Blessed Virgin Mary that joined the parade. At the Plaza Independencia, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma officiated a Mass where he called on devotees to follow Mary’s example.
“If other walks are for many purposes like walk to save the environment, our walk with Mary is to proclaim that we follow Mama Mary in this life journey because when we walk with her, we are certain that we will reach Jesus,” Palma said.
(CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
“Our walk with Mary is to proclaim that we follow Mama Mary in this life journey because when we walk with her, sigurado kita nga padulong kita kang (we’re sure that we head towards) Jesus,” the prelate said.
In a world filled with complaints, Palma said Filipinos have taken for granted “the blessings” they received “from the Lord.”
John Paul Fajardo, one of the devotees, said he makes it a point to join the annual Walk with Mary.
“I got this from my high school experience. We were encouraged by our school to participate since the organizers are from the Daughters of Charity.” Fajardo told Cebu Daily News.
The Walk With Mary procession is one of the events organized by the Catholic Church to commemorate the birthday of the Blessed Virgin on September 8.
Palma also invited the devotees to join the anticipated celebration of the 100th anniversary of the apparition of Mary in Fatima, Portugal, on October 13.