Philippines: Claretian missionaries host the first conference on Mary

Under the theme "You are blessed among women" (Luke 1:42), Claretian Missionaries hosted the first conference on Mary on May 1, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, at Claret School in Quezon City, Philippines.

The Claretian Missionaries, also known as the Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, organized the program in collaboration with Claretian Communications Foundations, Inc. and Claret School of Quezon City.

The event was significant as the congregation is celebrating its 175th founding anniversary this year.

More than 100 participants, comprising priests, nuns, laymen, and women, attended.

Mr. Michael Delos Reyes, an acclaimed author on Mary, delivered the first talk entitled "Mary, the Perfect Follower of Christ, the Absolute 'Crown of Creation': The Religious Practice of Crowning Marian Images."

In his presentation, he explained the importance of religious practices of crowning Marian images in the universal church and Philippine church. 

He also differentiated between episcopal and canonical crowning Marian images.

The second speaker was Carmen Valdes, a professor at Loyola School of Theology in the Philippines. She said, "And the mother of Jesus was there" (John 2:1).

Valdes mentioned several global Marian apparitions. She spoke in detail about Our Lady of Guadalupe, also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe, and how, in 1531, Mary appeared to a Mexican peasant named Juan Diego five times. 

The apparitions authorized by the church that started in 1981 were the second apparitions that Valdes discussed. In Kibeho, Rwanda, Central Africa, Mary appeared to young girls as "Nyina wa Jambo," or "Mother of the Word." In her visions, the Virgin Mary urged the conversion of sinners through frequent recitation of the Rosary, penance, and fasting.

The third apparition Valdes talked about was the Lady of La Vang in Viet Nam. During the persecution, many Christians took refuge in Quảng Trị Province's La Vang rainforest as they ran for their lives. They saw one of Vietnam's well-known Marian apparitions. Some say that as they were praying the rosary, Mary appeared on the branches of a neighboring tree.

Lastly, Fr. Jose Cristo Rey Garcia Paredes, CMF, professor of theology, delivered his talk, "Mary, Accomplice of the Spirit in Contemporary Times," from Madrid, Spain. 

According to him, Mary perfectly obeyed God’s will to become the Mother of Jesus. Her "yes" to God's plan transformed people's lives.

Paredes said, "Like Mary, we are all called to be the accomplices of the Holy Spirit for the greater glory of God and the common good of all."

Before the conference, Fr. Amador Tumbaga, prefect of the Prefecture of Spirituality of the Claretian Missionaries, Fr. Rhoel G. Province in the Philippines, explained the rationale of the conference, while Fr. Elias Ayuban, Jr., CMF, provincial superior, gave a brief message.

In his message, Bishop Honesto F. Ongtioco of the Diocese of Cubao stated that the conference aimed to emphasize the critical role of Mary in the Christian faith, life as a follower of Jesus, and the Church's mission.

"She is God's mother, who is a perfect model." Through her fidelity to what the Father has asked of her and her selfless, sinless, unwavering commitment to Her Son, Mary was the first and perfect disciple. Her entire life was dedicated to the service of her son and his mission in the world.  

“As pilgrim churches, we walk with Mary, our mother, and learn from her. She invites us to gaze lovingly at her heart while listening and pondering, especially as we navigate our daily challenges and draw inspiration from her. Like Mary, may we become more attuned to God’s ways and desire to align our lives to His will,” the bishop said.

In a separate message, Fr. Reyante U. Tolentino, president of the Association of Catholic Shrines and Pilgrimages of the Philippines (ACSP), endorsed the conference, saying, ‘We believe that this event is an uplifting moment, especially that the Philippines is known as ‘Pueblo amante de Maria,’ a people in love with Mary.”

ACSP is a ministry of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)-Episcopal Commission on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.

The Catechism for Filipino Catholics says, “The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of our Savior and his perfect disciple, has served as its inspirational model, just as she has done for countless Filipino Catholics through the ages (No. 18).

“The national network of Catholic shrines across the nation fully supports and endorses this initiative. We believe this would be beneficial not only to devotees of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but also to establish the CFC's point that "Marian devotion and piety seem co-natural to us Filipinos" (Catechism for Filipino Catholics, no. 47), said Fr. Tolentino.

At the end of the first Mary Conference, Fr. Christian Buenafe, O.Carm., synthesized the three talks.

Ms. Mary Ann Cruz facilitated large group sharing at the first Mary Conference after the participants had three rounds of small group sharing.

Fr. Dennis G. Tamayo, CMF, Executive Director of Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc., gave the closing remarks, while Elias Ayuban, Jr., CMF, presided over the Holy Eucharist to conclude the conference.

“Having attended the first conference on Mary, I learned to grow in our love and devotion to Mary, who is the Most Blessed Among Women,” said Liezel Cabral, a participant.

The organizers say that the Mary conference will be an annual feature starting now, held every May.