ON THE ROAD TO PONTIFICAL CORONATION OF MHC

Mr.AndrewJosephS.Chanco

On May 24, 2023, the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Paranaque City will celebrate the first anniversary of the Pontifical Coronation of the venerable and miraculous image of Mary Help of Christians venerated on the said shrine. According to Brockhaus, a Pontifical Coronation is “a pious institutional act, wherein the pope, through a bull [an official papal document], designates a crown or stellar halo to be added to a Marian image under a specific devotional title in a particular area or diocese.”

Looking back on the preparation before the momentous event, we go back in time some years back as there was some request asking to process the petition for the Pontifical Coronation of Mary Help of Christians. On January 16, 2021, an unofficial launching of the committee was created. The committee will prepare the necessary documents in petitioning the Holy Father, Pope Francis, to be submitted to the Congregation for the Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Historical records, pictures, literature materials, accounts of eyewitnesses on the origin of the image, and devotion were gathered among the people. In the end, the documents were arranged based on historicity, devotion, and miracles which are the requirements for the Pontifical Coronation

On March 2, 2021, the documents were submitted to the Arzobispado de Manila through the Most Rev Broderick S Pabillo, D D , who was then the Apostolic Administrator, as the image stayed for the longest time under their ecclesiastical territory

Acopyofthepetitionforthe PontificalCoronationatthefootof theOurLady’simageinthe NSMHCParish Photoscourtesyof Mr.AndrewChanco

The Chancery of the Diocese of Paranaque through Most Rev Jesse E Mercado, D D , through which the National Shrine and Parish are under, and the Provincial House of the Salesians of Don Bosco –Philippine North Province through Fr Gerardo N Martin, SDB, Provincial which shepherds the National Shrine and Parish

On April 23, 2021, with the endorsement of Most Rev Jesse E Mercado, D D , the document was forwarded to the Apostolic Nunciature through His Excellency Archbishop Charles J. Brown, D.D., Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines to be sent to Rome.

Ms.JoniQuizon,Ms.SusanOpinion,andMs.KittenSiosonsubmittingthe documentswiththeendorsementofBishopJesseE Mercado,D D tothe ApostolicNunciature PhotoscourtesyofMr AndrewChanco

Months of waiting have passed, seeking the approval of the petition.

On December 23, 2021, Fr. Crisostomo Eugenio D. Magbitang, SDB, received a phone call from the Chancery of the Diocese of Paranaque in the afternoon informing him of the good news that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, had granted the petition.

The following day, December 24, 2021, the announcement was made. A fitting gift for the devotees of Mary Help of Christians to make her in the act of coronation that it is the faith of the people that are then affirmed and crowned as they give homage to the Mother of God under the title, Help of Christians.

VivaMariaAuxiliadora!VivaCoronada!•

28-30 April 2023 - The Salesian Brothers of the Philippines North and South Provinces (FIN and FIS, respectively) and the other Provinces residing at the Sandor Brothers’ Formation House convened in Negros Oriental for their Formative Encounter as they assimilate the message of the General Chapter XXVIII (GC28)

The central theme of their reflection was on the question, “What kind of Salesian Brothers for the youth oftoday?” Their three-day encounter officially began at St Louis School of Don Bosco (SLS-DB) in Dumaguete City

They were divided into smaller groups and had encounters with the Senior High School students of SLS-DB After their encounter with the students, they left for Melania’s Graden in Tanjay City where they had their other activities and conferences.

Fr. Adrian Mendoza, SDB, FIS Delegate for the Commission on Formation, shared his insights regarding Pope Francis’ message for the GC28 as his opening remarks.

As the first resource person for the formative encounter, Br. Carmelo Martinez, SDB shared his insights and reflections about the identity and the mission of the Salesian Brothers for the Youth of Today.