Showing a photograph of Our Lady of Covadonga and one of Saint Pedro
Poveda |
Some families walked to the assembly |
Eager to get a rosary |
The Philippine Islands. Davao marked with a yellow dot |
The image of Our Lady of Lourdes donated |
 Young
people in front of the chapel decorated with the 'lanzones' welcoming
them |
Members of the Teresian Association |
BARANGAY Inayangan (October, 2005).- With a Marian catechesis for children,
youths and adults, distributions of rosaries and medals of Our Lady and
a Eucharist of thanksgiving, the Teresian Association in Davao honored the
Mother of God in the uplands of Camansi, in the Barangay area of Mindanao
in southern Philippines, and, at the same time, celebrated the ‘Voto de
Covadonga’ a Marian tradition from Spain.
A Holy Eucharist celebrated by the Parish Priest of Calinan, Father Junar
de la Victoria highlighted the event.
The call to worship before the Mass related the theme of the readings
about forgiveness and living for others as Christ did, to St. Pedro Poveda
who underwent many misunderstandings and humiliations and was not discouraged
in his efforts to found the Teresian Association as he had been inspired
in the Cave of Covadonga in northern Spain.
Poveda died as a martyr in 1936 and the Association stands today as witness
to his perseverance and love for Our Lady sealed by a baptism of blood.
A welcome prayer, read in the local Bisaya language, set the tone of the
celebration.
“Today we gather to thank Our Lady for the Teresian Association
and for all who are here present who love and honor her and who are willing
to follow her Son, in forgiveness and service to others, along the way
to Calvary”, the prayer said.
At the offertory, the Davao City group presented an image of Our Lady
of Lourdes to the Sitio Camansi GKK, to replace the one that had been
broken.
Father Junar later enthroned the image in the chapel of the Eucharist.
A total of 225 people participated in this joyful gathering: some 153
from the upland communities of Camansi and adjoining “sitios”.
Twenty three from the Josefa Segovia Foundation (JSF), the Macabatug Cooperatives
Federation (MACOFED) complex who actually did all the footwork preparation
in the uplands and 49 from Davao City proper.
Also present were T.A.members, with families and friends, including their
kids, as well as representatives from the T.A. Movement and youths from
the different T.A. youth groups.
The Davao City Agricultural District of Calinan lies some 42 kilometers
from Davao City proper. The Catholic Faith is sustained in these areas
by promoting the participation of the people in Basic Ecclesial Communities
(Gagmay’ng Kristohanong Katilingban or GKK in Bisaya).
As is characteristic of Filipino Catholicism, devotion to the Blessed
Mother of God is a significant way to lead people to Jesus. Proof of this
is that the members of the GKK of Sitio Camansi of this Barangay had put
up a Grotto of Our Lady, as a manifestation of their devotion to her,
but roaming animals had destroyed the image.
Knowing about this, the Teresian Association in Davao City decided to
celebrate this year’s “Voto de Covadonga”
in Sitio Camansi, Barangay Inayangan, Calinan, Davao City on Sunday, September
11, 2005.
The trip up was not without its inconveniences but it was all worth the
fellowship that took place among all, with bounteous “lanzones”
and other fruits of the land brought by the upland brothers and sisters
and even intertwined in a “Welcome” sign.
For all who participated, it was a memorable 11th of September of the
year 2005.
Text, TERESITA INFANTE
Photos, SID PORRAS
MORE PHOTOS OF THE MARIAN DAY
Children attentive |
Women
participating |
Arriving
in trucks |
Adult
cathequesis |
The
broken shrine |
Decorating
the wall with 'lanzones' |
|
