By Dcn. Donnie ​Duchin Duya, SDB
Photos Mr. Alexander Amora Juni

Manila Cathedral, the Philippines, 20 February 2016 - Whoever thought that once upon a time, in the pre-war Manila Cathedral, a statue of Don Bosco's Madonna had been enshrined in one of its side chapels? No one perhaps.

But if there is one thing that is most fascinating in the recent re-enthronement of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title Help of Christians (MHC) in her very own chapel is that MHC is deeply venerated in one of the most historic churches of Catholic Philippines.

Hence, when the news came out that the MHC image would be re-enthroned, the members of the Salesian family along with devotees of the Blessed Mother under this title came in droves, packing the Manila Cathedral full.

No less than His Eminence, Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop of Manila, presided the Holy Mass. He also led the rites of the re-enthronement of our Lady. In his homily, he thanked the “wide and dynamic Salesian family” for this "homecoming," and clarified that “Mary did not leave the Cathedral for she never leaves any home. Symbolically, “This re-enthronement makes us feel more at home since we have an assurance that our Mother is our Helper, too.”

After the post communion prayer, Fr. Paul Bicomong, SDB, Provincial Superior of the Salesians in the FIN Province thanked the Cardinal, and the rector of the Manila Cathedral Fr. Reginald Malicdem for their solicitude.

Months ago, Fr. Malicdem immediately said yes to the request of Fr. Remo Bati, SDB, director of the Marian Affairs of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians if he could grant them the possibility of having the MHC image re-enthroned in the Cathedral.

The rector, noting the historic value of the event, suggested to invite Cardinal Tagle to preside the celebration. Fr. Bati heeded the suggestion, wrote the Cardinal, and similarly, he also received an immediate affirmative response.

In the event, Fr. Bati honored two Don Bosco alumni for their contribution in the spread of the devotion to Mary Help of Christians, Mr. Tom Joven (DB Academy Pampanga) and Mr. Nolan Angeles (DB Mandaluyong).

After the Mass, the statue was brought in procession to the side chapel dedicated to Her. One enthroned, the Cardinal led the prayer composed by St. John Bosco himself to MHC. The congregation sang in chorus “O, Help of Christians.”

Historical Background

Pope Pius XI appointed Bishop Willam Piani–himself a Salesian–as Apostolic Delegate to the Philippines on Feb. 17, 1922. He would serve the same office for 26 long years, up until 1948.

According to Bishop Louis Morrow, then a Salesian priest when he served as Bishop Piani’s secretary, because of Bishop Piani’s distinctive Salesian devotion to MHC, he established the Archconfraternity of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) in many parishes.

No wonder, many bishops declared MHC as the secondary patroness of their dioceses. Medals, prayer novenas, images and statues of MHC were widely distributed, apparently copied from the original ones he had at his Delegation House in Malate, near the Parish Church of La Nuestra Senora de los Remedios.

Among the most privileged and prioritized places chosen by Bishop Piani to enthrone a statue of Mary Help of Christians for veneration, was the Manila Cathedral itself. The first chapel facing its main altar was dedicated and named after Her. This was done in coordination with the Archbishop of Manila, Msgr. Michael O ‘Doherty (1916-1949). (Cfr. the Cathedral map guide at the entrance of the church).

But then in 1942, due to the Japanese occupation, the statue of MHC in Manila Cathedral was brought for safety to Our Lady of Loreto, Sampaloc Manila. Later on, when the Parish Church of MHC in Better Living, Paranaque was proclaimed by the CBCP as a National Shrine on Aug. 24, 1985, the said statue from Sampaloc was solemnly transferred to Her new Shrine in Better Living in 1994.

Hence, from 1942 up to 2015, 73 years had passed in which the statue of MHC was away from the Manila Cathedral, particularly the Chapel, which up to now is still dedicated to Her.

It is for this reason, in view of the Bicentenary of the Liturgical Feast of Mary Help of Christians (1815 -2015 ) that we have requested the Archbishop of Manila, His Eminence, Cardinal Tagle, together with the Rector of the Cathedral, Fr. Reginald Malicdem, the permission to enthrone Mary Help of Christians once again in the Chapel dedicated to Her for almost a century already.

Historical background is based on the research made by the historian Fr. Gregorio Bicomong Jr. SDB in his book “The Arrival of Don Bosco in the Philippines”, published in 2001. (Cfr. Chap. 4, pp.69 -108).

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