A Mother Who Never Forgets

During my first few weeks in Nottingham we visited the Cathedral Church of St Barnabas, the seat of the Nottingham diocese. Like the Manila Cathedral, it has several places of devotion in honour of saints. At the back of the main altar one can find the Lady Chapel – a place set apart for the Blessed Virgin Mary. The statue depicts Our Lady seated on a throne like a queen and on her lap stands the Child Jesus. I knelt in front of that beautiful statue to ask for Mary’s intercession. One of my ardent requests to her was that I would get a job. If you kneel right in front of the statue you will see that Mary seems looking at you intently as though listening to what you have to say. Every time I would leave the cathedral I felt relieved. As long as time would permit me, every time I am in the city centre I would visit the cathedral – first to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and second to Our Lady in her chapel. I would also say “Hello” to the other great men and women of the Church: Saints Joseph, Anthony, Barnabas, Hugh, Bernadette, Francis, Therese, John, and Venerable Mary Potter.

After a few months of being a full time ‘houseband’ I finally got employed. Guess when was my start date? September 8, the Nativity of Our Lady.

I am convinced that she doesn’t forget her children. The least we can do is to remember her especially on her natal day.

Mama Mary, thank you for the many times you have supported me. May you never grow tired of guiding and interceding for us. Inspired by your example may we strive to lend others our listening ears,loving eyes,and pure hearts. I love you! Happy birthday, dear mother!

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Rev Fr Regino Cortez,OP, Regent of the UST College of Fine Arts & Design died last 27 August due to complications from diabetes. I know him very well because he was our High School Director in Letran. I see in this priest the image of a humble preacher of the Good News and staunch devotee of Mary and her rosary. I managed to buy a book he wrote a couple of years ago on the La Naval de Manila’s history. During the upsurge of Dan Brown’s ‘Da Vinci Code’, he came up again with another book: “The Da Vinci Code: An Exegetical Review” which comes to the defence of the Church. I can’t forget what he told reporters while leading people in burning Dan Brown’s books: “Ang kanyang sinasabi (referring to Dan Brown) ay false!”

I am sure that God and His Mother will never be outdone in remembering Fr Cortez and will stand in the gates of heaven to welcome his soul.

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Talking about remembering, some people often forget what they have promised once money becomes the business of the day. My heart goes for our kababayans who have to pay recruitments fees and all in order to get that nursing job in the US only to end up being short-changed by Sentosa, their recruitment agency. What is more deplorable is the fact that this agency is run by Filipinos! These nurses, sad to say, have actually been Sento-dusa!