10/09/2026
๐๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐ฒ, ๐๐จ-๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐
๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐โ๐ฌ ๐
๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐
๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐ฑ๐ก๐ข๐๐ข๐ญ
The faithful of the Epiphany of Our Lord Co-Cathedral Parish gathered on September 8 to celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, beginning with the Holy Mass at 6:30 AM, presided over by Rev. Fr. Marlon G. Allam, Parochial Vicar. The celebration served as a reflection on Mary's role in God's plan of salvation and on the enduring faithfulness of God to His promises.
Reflecting on Matthew's Gospel account of the annunciation to Joseph, Fr. Marlon emphasized God's unwavering fidelity, reminding the faithful that โGod is faithful. He never breaks His promise.โ He explained that the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary forms part of the unfolding of God's divine plan, through which God prepared the way for the coming of Christ. Long before Bethlehem and the birth of the Savior, God was already preparing Mary for her unique role in salvation history, with Fr. Marlon describing her as โthe doorway through which God enters into human weakness... and fills it with His divine presence.โ
Drawing from the examples of Mary and Joseph, Fr. Marlon further reflected on the virtue of ๐ฑ๐ข๐จ๐ต๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐จ๐ข๐ฑ, emphasizing the humble acceptance of God's will. Both were confronted with uncertainty, questions, and circumstances they could not fully understand, yet they responded with trust and obedience. Their example remains relevant to the faithful today, amidst the realities faced by families and communities. Many continue to experience economic hardship brought about by rising prices, while communities recover from floods and extreme weather events. Creation likewise continues to bear the consequences of environmental degradation, while corruption and injustice contribute to the weariness experienced by many.
In the midst of these realities, the feast calls the faithful to remember that God has not abandoned His people. At the same time, faith cannot be reduced to simply waiting for God to act. As God's promise unfolded through Mary's โyesโ and Joseph's faithful obedience, the faithful are likewise called to respond to God's will through their lives and choices. The Christian response to present realities must therefore be expressed through compassion rather than indifference, integrity rather than corruption, and responsible stewardship rather than exploitation.
Fr. Marlon also encouraged the faithful not to be afraid of bringing their questions and uncertainties before God. Like Joseph in the Gospel, Mary's own journey demonstrates that faith does not necessarily mean having all the answers, but trusting God even when His plan is not yet fully understood. Addressing the congregation, he asked, โKaya mo bang tanggapin ang kalooban ng Diyos nang may pagpapakumbaba?โ The question invited the faithful to examine their own willingness to surrender to God's will and to remain faithful amid the difficulties and uncertainties of the present.
Following the Holy Mass, Fr. Marlon led the Blessing and Incensing of the Marian Images, after which the parish's Grand Marian Exhibit officially opened at 8:00 AM. Featuring 60 Marian images and devotional displays, the exhibit was organized under the theme, โMagnificat: Kaiba'y Maria, lingayen so saray makapakelaw a bengatlan ginaway Makapanyarin Dios!โ The exhibit presents the rich ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ญ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ช๐ข of the Filipino faithful through images, titles, and devotional traditions that have accompanied generations of Catholics in moments of joy, sorrow, thanksgiving, and trial.
More than a presentation of sacred images, the Grand Marian Exhibit invites the faithful to contemplate Mary's enduring role in the life of the Church. While expressed through different titles and forms of devotion, the role and message of Mary remains consistent: to direct the faithful toward her Son and to follow His will. Her instruction at Cana, โDo whatever He tells youโ (John 2:5), continues to express the heart of Marian devotion. In this sense, every image and devotion becomes an invitation not merely to honor Mary, but to imitate her faith, humility, and obedience to God.
The opening of the exhibit also offers an opportunity to rediscover the meaning of Mary's ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฏ๐ช๐ง๐ช๐ค๐ข๐ต as more than a biblical hymn of praise. It is a continuing expression of faith in a God who lifts up the lowly, sustains His people, and remains faithful to His promises. For people and communities confronted by economic hardship, environmental challenges, corruption, injustice, and the uncertainties of present times, Mary's witness remains both a source of hope and a call to faithful action.
As the Co-Cathedral Parish opens the Grand Marian Exhibit, the faithful are reminded that God's promises continue to unfold in the present. The same God who prepared the way for salvation through the birth of Mary continues to work through His people today. May the celebration of Mary's Nativity and the contemplation of her ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฏ๐ช๐ง๐ช๐ค๐ข๐ต inspire the faithful to offer their own humble โyesโ to God, allowing His grace and marvelous works to be manifested through their lives, their communities, and their service to others.
