By Br. Julio Mota, SDB

Parañaque, The Philippines, 24 May 2016 -- On the Solemnity of Mary Help of Christians, the community of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Parañaque held a grand procession in her honor.

While waiting for the procession to start, the parishioners and devotees of Mary, Help of Christians coming from different sections of Barangay Don Bosco and other far places gathered in front the church.

Even though the day was so warm, there was a group performing a traditional dance to entertain the crowd.

The procession started at 4.30 pm (PST) with the blessing with holy water by the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Ernie Cruz, SDB to the representative of each section and different religious congregations and of course, the brothers and priests from the Theologate, Parañaque, the Philippines.

This time, the Barangay Captain, Hon. Concepcion Navarro and Parañaque City Mayor, Hon. Edwin Olivarez participated in the procession. There were many groups, and in order to make the procession more prayerful, each group should follow the order of procession by the organizer.

The procession was divided into two sections: Karakol Dancing and Prayers & Songs accompanied by a carosa with the statue of Mary, Help of Christian which was beautifully decorated with flowers.

During the procession the parishioners and devotees were praying the Rosary and singing Marian songs. Along the way, there were people standing at the gate of their house, because they could not join, watching in a prayerful mood and there were tables with the statues of Our Lady and other saints.

The procession took one hour and forty-five minutes to end, and indeed it was a grand procession and a fiesta of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians parish and most likely here in the Philippines, this grand Marian procession is to show the love and devotion to Our Lady in her feast day. Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us!

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