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ADMA Living, Loving, and Serving Like Mary
ADMA living, loving,
and serving like Mary
By Ms. Maria Junifer Maliglig, ADMA National Council Offi cer
The year 2020 proved very challenging for the members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA). Living and promoting the devotion to Mary Help of
Christians (MHC) through the constant presence of members in their respective parish churches and communities, leading the rosary and spearheading preparations for the monthly oral o ering on the 24th and Marian feast days, leading the block rosary where the image of MHC is transferred from one home to another—all these suddenly had to stop because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Realizing that the situation will not soon go back to normal, ADMA chapter o cers started to think of ways on how they can meet and pray the rosary and novena together.
Even though digitally challenged, the senior members of the Auxilium Chapter (Parañaque), encouraged each other to activate their social media accounts and install Facebook
Messenger and Zoom apps either on their laptops, tablets, or smartphones. After several months, the core group resumed its meetings online. Little by little, they, too, encouraged their co-senior members to do the same. The group patiently assisted each other in learning how to set-up and navigate through the di erent functions of the applications. Notably, the stay-at-home rule did not keep them from lovingly reminding each other to pray the rosary and the MHC novena every 15th to 23rd of the month; attend daily Mass online especially every 24th of the month; o er owers to
MHC virtually after Mass; pray for each other’s families, for the sick and deceased, and for the social issues faced by our country and the world. Even pictures of their family praying together were shared and this helped uplift one another.
In MHC-Don Bosco Technical Institute Tarlac, members from the Don Bosco Chapter organized a month-long Sermonette and Rosary. For 30 evenings in October, they gathered virtually via Zoom and listened to the sermonette of a designated member or invited guest. This was followed
by a sharing which was always lled with gratitude to Our Blessed Mother, whose constant presence is evidently experienced in their family life through her miracles and the answered prayers received through her intercession. The virtual meeting is always concluded with the rosary, the praying of the Entrustment of the Home to Mary Help of Christians and Oratio Imperata for COVID-19.
On the national level, the annual ADMA Convention held its 38th gathering on October 31, 2020. Approximately, 30 members from di erent chapters in Metro Manila and Laguna were physically present at the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians. There was the exposition and adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the formation talk showing the pre-recorded video presentation of Bishop Broderick Pabillo, DD on Pastoral Accompaniment in this Time of Pandemic and Political Crises, and the Eucharistic Celebration presided by Fr. Cris Magbitang, SDB, Rector of the National Shrine and the SDB Delegate to ADMA-FIN. The event was live streamed on the Facebook page of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians Parish. (https://www.facebook.com/NSMHCParish/ videos/354185915889025)
The national Advent Recollection was held on December 19, 2020 via Zoom. Attended by more or less 35 participants, it was another opportunity for members across di erent chapters to listen, share, and get in touch with one another. The experiences shared, the reassurances to stay strong, positive, and healthy spiritually and physically were all heartwarming. Members renewed their ADMA pledge and commitment to imitate Mary’s virtues by prayer and good works and to continue to spread the devotion to Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament and to Mary Help of Christians.
By the end of 2020, the chapters that comprised mostly of senior members, were now able to organize their online Christmas celebrations. Indeed, not even a pandemic could keep these Marian devotees from giving thanks to the Lord and showing appreciation for each other as they prepared to welcome the birth of Jesus in their hearts.
Undeniably, in spite of the unique and seemingly overwhelming time each ADMA member faced last year, holding on to God’s mercy, persevering in faith, hope, and love and trusting evermore in the loving guidance and protection of Our Blessed Mother has prevailed. Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us!
