Catholics called to witness Mama Mary’s ‘descent’

CEBU, Philippines — The Augustinian fathers in Cebu and the Our Lady of Lourdes advocates are inviting Marian devotees in Cebu to witness again the reenactment of the miraculous appearance of the Our Lady of Lourdes to be held at the Basilica in downtown Cebu City this Saturday evening.

Father Ric Anthony Reyes urged the faithful to participate in the religious activities of the feast honoring the Our Lady of Lourdes.

One of the main highlights of the annual religious event is the “Pagkanaug sa Mahal nga Birhen sa Lourdes” that seeks to commemorate the apparition of Mother Mary before the sickly Marie-Bernarde Soubirous (now St. Bernadette) in Lourdes, France, thus the title given Our Lady of Lourdes.

Fr. Reyes said the presentation, which follows right after the 5:30 p.m. novena-Mass, carries a deeper message for Catholics.

“The Kanaug is a symbolic reenactment of the intercession of Mama Mary to people to bring such gift and grace of God's healing to all Christians. Mao nay nindot nga mensahe sa Kanaug natong tanan,” he said.

“Mary, in her apparition in Lourdes, is invoked as intercessor for all the sick. Sa cave sa Lourdes, France, naa'y mi-agas nga spring miraculously sa tiilan sa grotto, which water used by the devotees in faith, nangaayo sila,” he further explained.

The veneration to the Our Lady of Lourdes and the traditional reenactment was started by the prominent Rivera family in the 1930s.

The reenactment, which has been organized yearly, was a brainchild of Don Juan Rivera, the maternal grandfather of The FREEMAN chairman Jose "Dodong" Gullas.

Jose recalled that after the founder died, his mother - Josefina "Inday Pining" Rivera-Gullas - took over the responsibility of the family tradition until it was passed to his generation.

“Nagpadayon ni nako nga tradisyon tungod kay alang kanako aduna ko'y misyon sa Ginoo (This is a continuing tradition. I believe I have a mission for God),” said Jose.

Jose serves as the overall chairman of the feast of the Our Lady of Lourdes, particularly the one under the auspices of the Augustinian fathers and the Cofradia de la Virgen de Lourdes, which is headed by Jose's wife Nena.

The Cofradia de la Virgen de Lourdes is a lay organization under the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu with the Augustinian prior, Fr. Pacifico Nohara Jr., serving as the spiritual director.

Father Reyes said every Catholic should respond to the call of following the virtues of the Blessed Virgen. — JMD, (FREEMAN)