The director and editors of Mary Page under the auspices of the International Marian Research Institute do not necessarily endorse or agree with the events and ideas expressed in this feature. Our sole purpose is to report on items about Mary gleaned from a myriad of papers representing the secular press.

Padre Pio: Miracle Man
[Source: Video Business, May 8, 2006]

Story Line: As a young boy, Italian peasant Francesco Forgione (Castellitto) has visions of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, convincing him to become a Capuchin friar.  His healing powers, coupled with the appearance of the stigmata, earns "Padre Pio" a devoted following and begins to make the Vatican nervous.

Bottom Line: An exceptionally earnest, well-made biopic of the miracle worker who Pope John Paul II declared a saint in 2002, Padre Pio has something films of this type often lack: a strong sense of dramatic structure.  It would be a compelling story even if it were not true (or, at least, based on events known to be true).  Forgione's saintly nature is well captured in Castellitto's superb performance.  The Capuchin friar emerges from this Italian made-for-TV mini-series as a towering figure, which should please Catholic viewers lately battered by repeated stories and images depicting deeply flawed clergymen.  Obviously a heartfelt production and one that avoids the temptation to sensationalize its subject and his supernatural abilities, Padre Pio could be extremely big with the heartland consumers who made Passion of the Christ such a cultural phenomenon.  This title deserves all the chatter and promotion you can give it.

Marian Shrines New Landmarks on Antipolo Route
[Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 30, 2006]

WITH HIS MEMORIES STILL ALIVE in the hearts of his followers and friends, not even death can stop the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sins dream from becoming a reality.

Today, four newly built shrines in Mandaluyong and Pasig cities will be blessed. Two shrines had been blessed earlier. They are part of the cardinals vision of building 20 shrines representing the 20 mysteries of the Holy Rosary (including the Luminous Mystery), on a 14-kilometer traffic-prone stretch from the Our Lady Queen of Peace (Edsa Shrine) in Ortigas Avenue to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (Antipolo Cathedral) on Sumulong Highway.

Drawing inspiration from a group of pilgrims walking from Mandaluyong City to Antipolo City twice a year, Maundy Thursday and April 30, the eve of the Antipolo May Festival, Sin had thought of building the shrines, hoping to bring the Blessed Virgin Mary closer to the people, three years ago.

The annual tradition began when the centuries-old statue of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage had to be transferred to the Quiapo Church during the Japanese Occupation.

Brought to Antipolo City by Spanish galleon trader Don Juan Nino de Tabora in 1626, the image was returned to the Antipolo Cathedral after the war ended in 1945.

Retracing the route

Her return to a permanent home inspired devotees to start pilgrimages in 1978 to retrace the route taken by the image, Antipolo Cathedral rector Fr. Rigoberto de Guzman said.

Soon, more devotees were joining the pilgrimage, which they later called Ang Banal na Paglalakbay.

Pilgrims would bring the image on foot to the Quiapo Church in a motorcade and return it to Antipolo in the evening.

The pilgrimage was a touching testament of faith. But Sin had observed most of the participants were just walking and were not praying, project proponent Louie Reyes recalled.

He initially thought of the idea to make the pilgrims pray the Rosary, Reyes said. But after two to three days, the Cardinal came out with another concept, Reyes added.

Way of Mary

The shrines called the Way of Mary, once completed, could become reflection stops for devotees and pilgrims praying the Rosary.

The route is one of the busiest in the metropolis but according to Sin, that is exactly where Mother Mary should be. She should be with the people.

Reyes and a group of businessmen, all devotees of the Blessed Virgin, decided to push through with the idea. The first shrine, located at the Ortigas Building on corner Ortigas and Meralco Avenues, was built last year.

Cardinal Sin himself had blessed the first shrine (The Shrine of the Anunciation), erected at the Edsa Shrine, last year. Three weeks before Sin passed on, Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes also blessed the last shrine (The Shrine of the Coronation) at the Antipolo Cathedral.

In a span of one year, the group of devotees managed to erect four more shrines to complete the Joyful Mystery, getting funds from private donors like businessman Ricardo Pascua and the Ortigas family. The other shrines are located at the Frontera Verde on Ortigas Avenue, the corner of Ortigas Avenue and Pasig Boulevard, and at the corner of De Castro Avenue on Ortigas Avenue extension.

The shrines, in bas-relief, were sculpted and painted on concrete and steel by artist Nemi Miranda, who also did murals and paintings for the two churches connecting the shrines, the Edsa Shrine and Antipolo Cathedral.

Each shrine is six feet tall, four feet wide, six feet thick and mounted on six-foot high lighted pedestals designed by architect Joey Amistoso.

There are 14 more shrines to be completed, with each structure costing about P400,000, Reyes said. His goal is to complete the project by Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Fund-raising through text

He is not only counting on the help of wealthy businessmen, but also on the love many Filipinos have for the Blessed Virgin Mary, and yes, even on their habit of text messaging.

Those who want to help can send a text message to 2600, the Text Mama Mary Community, established by the group to encourage devotees to send petitions and prayers through text.

The revenues coming from the text messages, which cost P2.50 each, would be used to complete the remaining shrines which are not just works of art.

More than a realization of a great man's vision to strengthen the faith of the faithful, they are also a constant reminder of and a prayer for peace.

We really need peace, especially in these times. We hope that through our prayers, we will be enlightened on the path to peace, De Guzman said.

Return to Top

Our Mary Page web site is updated frequently. Please stop in again and see What's New.

  Return to Archive