Rekindling the devotion to Mary Help of Christians in Pandemic

By ADMA Tarlac

Tarlac City, Philippines, 31 October 2020 -- Tonight we concluded the month-long nightly sermonette and rosary of the members of ADMA Tarlac. It was a night filled with hope. A night that was not stopped by the pending typhoon. A night of the thirty nights that made us remember our devotion to our Lady Help of Christians.

The members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians in Tarlac gathered via Zoom video call for a moment of prayer and bonding. The nightly prayer meeting was a way of the group to celebrate the month of the Holy Rosary. Each member took turns to share their devotion to Mary and how it has helped them and their families. The short prayer meeting begins with the ‘sermonette’ of the featured member and immediately followed by the praying of the Holy Rosary. They conclude the rosary with the Entrustment of the Home to Mary Help of Christians and the Oratio Imperata against COVID-19.

During the 24th of the month MHC Commemoration, they joined the praying of the rosary and online celebration of the mass. Two members volunteered to read, one volunteered to lead the singing. The rosary and mass was streamed online through the Facebook Page of DB Tarlac Pastoral Office and simulcasted live nationwide through the Radio Maria stations.

On the last week of October, they invited fellow devotees and other members of ADMA from the National Council. The youngest sharer was Andrew Chanco, a college teacher and co-founder of the Facebook Group “Mary Help!”. Other ADMA Members from different chapters and the national council who responded to their invitation and generously shared the devotion stories were Leah Ann Castro, Leonora “Nene” Austria, and Maria Junifer Maliglig. ADMA National Delegate, Fr Cris Magbitang SDB was introduced to the group and joined the prayer-bonding.

On the 31st of October, the last night of their 30-day “panata” they shared their feelings and take-aways from the experience. We share with you the gist of their sharing here: “It has become part of my daily life. I look forward to it every night.” “It is good that we are able to come together and pray together even if at times we find it taxing because of the technology.” “The sharing and stories of each one inspired me and made me treasure more the fact that I am part of this ADMA family.” Joel Ilagan, the one who challenged the group to set out on this monthlong prayer, shared that it was a success and he is happy that the group was able to embark on something that is difficult yet fulfilling.

Their local delegate, Fr April Jerome Quinto SDB, thanked them for their commitment and initiative to celebrate the month of the holy rosary in prayer and spiritual bonding. He asked them, “what’s next?”

We basked in the light that this prayer-bonding has brought us. It was Mary who brought us Jesus, our Hope, our Salvation. In remembering our stories of devotion to Mary, we were lead to her Son. We are grateful for the many wonderful miracles we have witnessed because of this love for Our Lady. Indeed it was ad Jesus per Mariam in real life. Mary Help of Christians, pray for us!

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