UNDER HER MATERNAL PROTECTION

Mary and the Youth Ministry

On the occasion of the visit of the International Pilgrim Image

and the 100th Anniversary of the Apparitions of Our Lady
in Fatima, Portugal

Our Lady of Fatima Parish

Cadaratan, 2916 Bacarra, Ilocos Norte
26 August 2017

Rainier Flor S. Marquez

Duration of the talk : 1 hour

Structure of the talk :

Duration (in Minutes) Activity What to do Notes for the Materials

Facilitator
10 mins Gospel Reading Meditatively reading  The facilitator must Bible, Behold the Child
of the Gospel episode be able to settle Album by Bukas Palad
on the Annunciation down the (Tracks 3 & 4), lighted
of Mary participants in candles
prayer so to be able
to be attentive to or
the episode and be
able to reflect and (Alternative)
contemplate on the Vespers Album by
mystery of the JMM
Annunciation.
 Once the
participants have
settled in the mood
of reflection, the
facilitator will
slowly read the
Gospel.
 Optional: there can
be lighted candles
and some
meditative music to
help set the mood.
5 mins Explanation of the Explaining the reason  The facilitator will none
Scriptural Text why this reading was need to inform the
chosen participants that
this will be the
theme for the
upcoming National
Youth Day in
Zamboanga (Nov.
2017)
15 mins Talk proper Expounding the topic  The facilitator wil Visual aids (PPT
go in-depth on presentation, or if not
 the topic as he available like points
starts with the written in Manila
Annunciation of Paper and the like)
Mary as the
starting point of
the theme.
10 mins Wrap up Activity Letter writing to Mary  Participants will Visual aids (PPT
be given the presentation, or if not
opportunity to available like points
say their own written in Manila
‘Fiat’ through a Paper and the like),
letter. The any meditative song
facilitator will (Vespers), Song Pag-
provide the Ibig Ko by Hangad,
points to help writing materials
them write their
own letter
5 mins Concluding Activity Venerating the Image  All will sing a Song Awit sa Ina ng
of Our Lady of Fatima Marian Song to Santo Rosaryo
conclude the

Process : (with reference to the Structure)

I. Opening Prayer / Mood Setting

The facilitator will ask all the participants of the workshop to settle down in silence. To help set the mood the
lights in the venue can be dimmed down and candles can be lit. And participants are invited to look at the
image of Our Lady

II. Points

* The reading was taken from Lk 1, 26-38. It tells about the Annunciation of the Lord's birth to Mary by the
Archangel Gabriel. In this Gospel episode, we are told that Mary, as per Archangel's words, was chosen to be
the Mother of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

* Mary was, of course, surprised by the announcement. "How could this be, since I do not have any relations
with any man?" Translated into modern terms, Mary was in fact asking how can she conceive and bore a son
well in fact she did not have sex with everyone. And the Angel explains that she will conceive by the power
of the Holy Spirit. And so she concedes, without any complaint, trusting in the plan that God has for her.
Thus, "fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum" -- "let it be done to me according to your word."

How do place our trust in God inspite of all the things that are happening in our life? Papaano tayo
nagtitiwala sa Diyos sa kabila ng mga nangyayari sa ating buhay?

* This Gospel reading that we have just heard is the reading chosen as the theme for the upcoming National
Youth Day 2017 to be held in Zamboanga on 6-10 November 2017. Incidentally, on this occassion of the visit
of the Pilgrim Image of Our Lady all the way from Fatima, Portugal and as we celebrate our Diocesan Marian
Youth Night, we are to reflect who Mary is as stated in the Gospel reading we have just heard. From there,
we will be able to develop more our understanding of who she is and we will be explaining more about her
through her dogmas that were associated with her.

* Going back to the Gospel reading, it is said that during this time, Mary was about the age of 16 when she
received her vocation to become the mother of our Savior. She was, therefore, a youth - a young person like
was. So her immediate reaction of fear was so inevitable. Ano nga naman ang magagawa ng isang
kabataang nahaharap sa isang malaking responsibilidad na maging isang ina lalo pa't maging Ina ng isang
tagapagligtas na galing sa langit? Eh sa panahon ngayon, mahirap na ang maging isang batang ina. But
then again, Mary's time is different from our time.

* As far as her qualifications why she was chosen as the Mother of Our Lord, we do not know; only God
knows it. What we know is that here is an ordinary young teenage girl of 16 is being highly favored by God.

How are we in terms of owning our responsibilities (i.e. as son/daughter, as a student, and as a young
professional) according to our own vocation? Papaano tayo sa ating pag-ako ng ating responsibilidad (bilang
isang anak, isang estudyante, at isang kabataang propesyonal) ayon sa tawag natin? Kasana tayo iti intay
panang-ako ti responsibilidadtayo (a kas anak, estudyante, ken agtutubo a propesyonal) segun iti
nakaawagantayo iti biag?

* And so from this Gospel episode, we know that God chooses the humble, the weak, the vulnerable, the
ordinary people, and even the sinful people so that God can use them to fulfill His loving plan for all of us -
the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God here on earth.

* In the later part of this episode, which is by the way part of the so-called Infancy Naratives or the stories
that led to the birth of Jesus, she will later visit her cousin Elizabeth and there she expresses her praise of
thanks through her song Magnificat where she says, "all generations will call me Blessed." That is why she
has been honored and proclaimed even until the present and in fact, there are four Marian dogmas that
affirm that she is, indeed, blessed: Mother of God (Jan. 1), Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), Perpetual
Virginity (March 25 - Annunciation), and Assumption (August 15)

* And so later on she will be that one biblical character who, even not prominent, will accompany her Son in
His ministry in proclaming the kingdom of God. And this is manifested through the episodes of their joyful,
sorrowful, luminous, and glorious episodes in the life of Jesus and Mary. And these episodes in their life is
what we are always reflecting when we pray the Rosary. So, hindi lang isang paulit-ulit na dasal ang
pagrorosaryo kundi isa rin itong malalim na pagninilay sa mga galak, sakit, kaliwanagan, at kaluwalhatian
sa buhay ng ating Mahal na Ina at si Hesus. At ang pagninilay din nating ito ay siyang sumasalamin din sa
ating buhay na puno rin ng galak, hapis, kaliwanagan, at kaluwalhatian. And Mary's life, like all of us, has
undergone that stage. But it is a stage that was not easy. It is a roller coaster of feelings: happiness, anxiety,
worries, extreme sadness (maybe at some point depressing stages). Despite of that, GOD WAS WITH HER
AND WAS ALWAYS WITH HER.

How do I see myself in my own joyful, sorrowful, luminous, and glorious mysteries in my life? Do I also see
God working in my own mysteries just as Mary and Jesus did? Papaano ko nakikita ang aking sarili sa aking
misteryo ng galak, hapis, liwanag at luwalhati sa aking buhay? Nakikita ko rin baa ng Diyos na gumagalaw
sa aking sariling misteryo na katulad nina Maria at Jesus? Kasanok a makita ti bagbagik iti bukodko a
misteryos a naragsak, naladingit, nalawag, ken nagloriaan a panagbiagko? Makitkitak kadi ni Apo Dios nga
aggungunay iti bukodko a misterio a kas ken ni Maria ken Hesus?

* And with the passing of time, generations have trod, trod and trod. So many things had happened. Of
course, the history of humanity was filled with a lot of developments, and also tragedies. It was a continual
battle of good vs. evil. And so, it was necessary that God continues to bring his message in this modern and
post-modern time. How? Through private revelations or apparitions. And this is where the apparitions of
Fatima come in and it happened a century ago.

* Particularly, the Marian apparitions at the little town of Fatima in Portugal held prominence in our time
because it was controversial; it was filled with secrets, prophecies, and revelations in the end times, most of
which related on the Second World War .
 * A brief background: starting on 13 May 1917, the Blessed Virgin appeared to the three shepherds –
siblings Jacinta and Francisco Marto and their cousin Lucia Santos – and asked them to pray the Rosary as a
means of sacrifice for the atonement of the sins of mankind, for the salvation of poor souls, and for world
peace. Since then, until 13 October 1917, Our Lady made specific requests to the children. This Marian
apparition was responsible for the propagation of the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the First
Saturday devotions, and an emphasis on continual praying of the Rosary (thus, the well-known “Fatima
Prayer”).

* Our Lady’s message of peace in her apparitions in Fatima, Portugal, though it happened almost a hundred-
year ago, still holds relevance in our time. We are in a world living in war (conflict among nations and
ourselves, war against drugs, and the like). And isn’t timely still that we are still seeking peace in our world,
in our society, in our homes, and also in our own selves?

* And so, fellow young people, I aptly titled this workshop/talk “Under Her Maternal Protection: Mary and
the Youth Ministry.” The aim of this workshop is to be aware of Mary’s life, example and virtues and how do
we draw lessons from it in our daily life as a Catholic youth. Like Mary, she was just an ordinary teenage girl.
Pero sa kabila nito, pinili siya ng Diyos upang maging abang lingkod, upang maging Ina ng ating Diyos, at
upang maging Ina nating lahat. Pinagdaanan niya ang pinagdaanan nati at pinagdaraanan natin ngayon. And
God uses our own humanity and finiteness so that, like Mary, we may become a KA-LAKBAY through our
fellow youth.

* Mary is the true model of youth ministry. In silence and in pain, she remains faithful. She still follows God’s
ways, kahit masakit na, kahit said na said ka na, kahit na halos mawala na ang lahat. At sa kabila ng lahat
ng mga pinagdaraanan natin ngayon, nariyan ang ating Mahal na Ina na patuloy na tumatangis, humihikbi,
at humahapis. At kapag nahanap natin ang liwanag, hindi ba hinahanap rin natin ang Diyos. Hindi natin
alam, kasabay natin Siya. And so, youth ministry builds up on the fact that we are called to become a
minister on our fellow youth not because they are our fellow youth but because we can identify ourselves
with them. And in identifying ourselves with them, we hope that the face of Christ will manifest itself in our
ministry to the youth.

III. Conclusion

At this point, the facilitators will distribute writing materials to the participants. The facilitator shall invite
and share to them the points in these words:

My fellow youth, I invite you, with the piece of paper and pen in your hand, after what you have heard in
this talk, what would you like to tell our Mother? Always remember that she listens to us even if we make
her feel sad because of our failure to be faithful. She loves us like a mother and she will never judge us. Like
what she said to the three young people in Fatima, she also says to us today: I am your Mother. Look at her
face right now. Is there something in your heart that you would like to tell her?

Pause a moment then set the mood for song listening.

My fellow young people, I invite you, as you contemplate our Mother’s face, listen to this song intently.
Listen very well to its lyrics. Think that she always loves you and that is enough.

Play Pag-ibig ko by Hangad

Now, you may write in one paragraph what your heart would like to tell to our Beloved Mother.

After writing, ask the participants read their letter silently then fold I, to put into their hands their letter and
then wave it as an act of entrustment to our mother. Then Awit sa Ina ng Santo Rosaryo by Fr. Carlo Marcelo
will be played and sung. Everybody is asked to sing.