Redemptorist Fathers carries the Icon of Mother of Perpetual Help after the cultural event in SM Seaside last Friday evening, February 17, 2017. (Photo: Alren Jerome Beronio)
The two-day Visayas Congress of Our Mother of Perpetual Help opened on February 17, 2017 at the Redemptorist Church, Cebu City with 582 delegates from Cebu, Borongan, Catarman, Tacloban, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Iloilo and a few guests from Baclaran, Lipa and Davao to celebrate the Congress theme: “150 Years of Making Her Known Throughout the World (1866-2016.”
The Congress opened with a Mass presided by Most Rev. Oscar Florencio, Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu, who challenged the participating devotees that it is not enough knowing and loving Our Mother of Perpetual Help but must “put flesh to the devotion.”
As an Introduction to the 150th Jubilee, a special liturgy on the Gazing at the Icon: Contemplating and Understanding the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Icon was held completing the morning welcome.
The first session was on How the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Icon and Novena Began in the Philippines and How It Spread Throughout the Country discussed by Prof. Trizer Dale Mansueto, Historian/Professor of MSU-IIT.
According to Prof. Mansueto, the Redemptorists brought the Icon to the Philippines in July 1906 when they arrived in Opon, Cebu (now Lapulapu City) aboard the boat “Heroic” as a response to the need of missionaries during the early days of the American Period.
The devotion started on May 13, 1946 at St. Clement’s Church , Iloilo City by Fr. Patrick Nulty. The devotion began in Cebu on Sept. 15, 1946 by Fr. McHugh followed in Lipa on June 13, 1947. Fr. Leo English brought it to Baclaran and started it on June 13, 1948. It was in Baclaran where it became famous.
Prof. Mansueto’s research showed that Our Mother of Perpetual Help became popular in the Philippines because of the Redemptorists who brought the Icon wherever they went and named their churches in honor of this Marian title, and also because we are very close to our mothers.
After Mansueto’s lecture, Fr. Jovencio Ma, CSsR, coordinator of Redemptorist Asia Oceania, gave a very inspiring testimony on “Mary in the Life of a Redemptorist Missionary.” He highlighted on emptying as Mary’s spirituality.
Day one of the Congress concluded with a Dinner and a “Maria” Make Her Known Gala Concert at the SM Seaside City.
News Article: by: Madz de la Cerna
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