About to end the month of October still with a touch of Mary, the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) together with the Evangelization Ministry conducted Basic Mariology (meaning a theoretical study of Mary as the ever virgin Mother of Christ) Seminar on the 20th and 21st day of October, at rooms 118 & 119 of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu Parochial School (NSDAPS).
The two-day event was divided into morning and afternoon sessions. For the 1st day of the seminar moderated by Bro. Mark Pelobello, the morning session started at 7:30-8:15 am for the registration of participants and then singing of Joyful and Marian Songs. The enthronement of the Bible and image of NSDA was done before the Opening Prayer, lead by Bro. Tom Castro. Afterwards is the opening remarks from Bro. Dani R. Villanueva, PPC president. The overview of the seminar was discussed by Bro. Mark Pelobello.
Going through the event is the discussion of the first topic which is about the “Plan of God” talked by Sis. Rizamelia Geron. The second topic talks about the “Role of Mary in God’s plan”, further discussed by Rev. Fr. Edwin Tirado. The third topic was then tackled by Sis. Eustie Mendoza, regarding the “Handmaid of the Lord.” Each discussion was followed by an open forum. The seminar was ended by an Angelus Prayer lead again by Bro. Tom Castro and praying of the Holy Rosary by small groups of 4.
The afternoon session started at 1 pm, by participants singing again Joyful and Marian songs followed by an opening prayer lead by Bro. Sam George. Bro. Rey Balcos then talked about the fourth topic entitled “Marian Apologetics.” Sis Joy S. San Miguel spoke about the “Mother of God” for the fifth topic. The last two topics for the day was discussed by Bros. Dondon and Dado Salamat which were about “Messages of Our Lady” and “Marialis Cultus (True Devotion to Mary) & Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” An open forum again was held every after the discussion of the topics. The event ended by a closing prayer lead by Sis. Fely Viloria. The session was moderated by Bro. Raymart Dagupio.
For the 2nd and final day of the seminar, the morning session together with their moderator Bro. Tom Castro was held. It started at 8 am for the Signing of Attendance Sheet, Singing of Joyful and Marian songs and Opening Prayer lead by Sis. Jezarene Abroso. The eighth topic was about the “Immaculate Conception” discussed by Sis. Dioscilinda F. Sison. The ninth topic was delivered by Bro. Christian Robles about the “Assumption.” The tenth topic was about the “Perpetual Virginity” further explained by Sis. Teresa Blanco. The final topic for the morning session was talked over by Bro. Dave Axalan which was about “Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu Apparition Story, Spread of Devotion and Canonical Coronation.” Open forums were conducted at the end of each topics. The session ended by Angelus Prayer, once again lead by Sis. Jezarene Abroso.
For the final afternoon session moderated by Sis. Remylyn Barruga, Singing of Joyful and Marian songs followed by an Opening Prayer lead by Sis. Charlotte Roslin started at 1 pm. The twelfth topic about “The Secrets of Fatima” was revealed by Bro. Jason De Jesus. “Virtues of Mary” for the thirteenth topic was preached by Bro. Ria Jacob. The final topic which was about “Mediatrix of Graces” was discussed by Bro. Dani R. Villanueva. Open forums again occured after then. Prayer of the Holy Rosary was lead by Sis. Sol Buenafe.
The election of new officers was also held right after the sessions, followed by a Holy Mass at DSPNSDA. The awarding of certificates for the participants was held after the mass, ended by a solemn prayer lead by Sis. Charlotte Roslin.
There are four dogmas of Roman Catholic Mariology. First is the title “Mother of God”; the Immaculate Conception; the Perpetual Virginity of Mary; and the Assumption of Mary. Each signifies the Sacred events in Mary’s life, in which every devotees should contemplate and reflect whether it is the month of October or not, in which these happenings were mostly remembered. (Maria Angela Patrice M. Mabutol)
