I once told my wife of my dream of organizing the Rosary devotion among Filipinos in Nottingham, similar to the Block Rosary we had at home. She shared in my aspiration. That dream took two years to be realized though.
27th June 2009, feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, I had a chat with my friend and kumpare Ronald Abrera about my plan which he showed interest in. I began to do some brainstorming, some reflection, and some prayers.
One summer afternoon in July, as we paid Jackie Rapada a visit, I intimated my dream to Precy Lagman, an experienced organiser of our annual Christmas party and other events. Ate Precy liked the idea and assured me of her support by starting to contact other Pinoys. Originally we planned to have the Rosary across the whole of Nottingham, but felt it was too ambitious. We had another meeting with other interested kababayans and, looking at the interest we have gathered, found that we could have the devotion in the Bestwood and Daybrook Areas of the city. Participating families’ availabilities were ironed out and towards the end of the same month the timetable was finalized.
An image of the Immaculate Heart Mary that will be brought from one home to another was purchased from the Poor Clare Sisters Repository in Bulwell along with rosaries, a candle, and prayer leaflets. Luckily I (and other parishioners) managed to track down Fr Paul, who was having tea that time, and asked him to bless the religious articles bought.
1st October came and that dream started to unravel before my eyes. People gathered to pray at the Lagman and Rapada Residence. At a 3 or 4 night-intervals the image of Our Lady (along with a Crucifix from the Lagmans) was transferred to another house. As of this writing, we are already on our 7th house! As you can see, each home and the happenings thereof have been featured as news items in our web of which we are receiving a number of positive feedbacks on the group’s devotion. Our parish newsletter has also included this as part of its announcements for two weeks in a row.
October is nearly complete. We still have 2 homes left before we have our Closing Event on the 31st. Yet as early as now I am very, very grateful to the Lord for blessing this dream. Thanks too to Mama Mary whose unrelenting guidance was there from Day 1.
Credit also goes to my own family for their support and for the 9 families and other kababayans whose faith, resiliency, patience, understanding, cooperation, and zeal have contributed in more ways than one to make this devotion vibrant and successful. I look forward to next year working with these wonderful people, attracting more members, and propagating much better this devotion to Our Lady.
Kristina, my youngest sister, once commented how touched she was to see how we Pinoys have been supportive of one another. Through the Rosary devotion, we have made ourselves rooted in prayer. And having that foundation, I believe, we would be more able to reach out to others - the way the Lord would want it to be. In the process, others would truly recognize us as Mary’s sons and daughters.
Ave Maria!
