SINGAPORE – Montfortian Associates- ANNUAL RETREAT
Mary, Queen of All Hearts: The Role of Mary in God’s Plan of Salvation
The most awaited MA annual retreat 2021 came as we celebrated the Queenship of Mother Mary last August 20-22, 2021. This year, the participants had the option to attend it in person at Montfort Centre or via zoom in the comfort of their homes. This offered flexibility to participants and catered to those who might be working or unable to leave their homes for personal reasons.
The retreat was conducted by Fr. Yulito Q. Ignacio a priest from the Philippines, who is the now resident priest at the Archbishop’s Palace, Villa San Miguel, Mandaluyong City and an associate pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Welfareville, Mandaluyong.
Fr. Yulito Q. Ignacio was ordained as priest on September 19, 1987, Feast of Our Lady of La Salette, by Cardinal Jaime L. Sin. He took his Licentiate Degree in Sacred Theology in Spirituality, Magna Cum Laude, at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from 1991-1993. Afterwards, he took another Licentiate and Doctoral Course in Sacred Theology with Specialization in Mariology at the Pontificia Facolta Teologica MARIANUM in Rome in 1994 to 1996. From 1996 to 2013, he worked as Spiritual Director in San Carlos Seminary, Guadalupe, Makati City and was then appointed as Head Spiritual Director in the same seminary.
A key message in this retreat was an invitation for all of us to connect with Mary and emulate her way of life through her venerable virtues.
The virtues of Mary include (1) profound humility, (2) faith, (3) obedience, (4) prayerfulness, (5) universal mortification, (6) divine purity, (7) charity, (8) patience, (9) angelic sweetness and (10) divine wisdom.
I believe that through these virtues, God is extending an invitation to each one of us, albeit differently one from the other, as a way to follow Him more closely.
A sharing from Fr. Yulito that touched me was his total dependence on God on his complete healing. God carried him every step of the way through his healing process. The attending doctor were surprised at how God made him well. Miracle is not impossible with God. Nothing is impossible for Him. Although we often wait for God’s plan to manifest in our lives, God is actually working and making wonders in our life. And so we need to encounter Him and personally experience the graces He had granted for us all.
So, personally, the virtue of Mary that resonated with me the most was the total obedience to God. Being totally dependent on and obedient to God is definitely difficult. But this virtue was the start of Mary’s YES to God, which eventually led to embracing God’s plan for her life. So, we could begin to give our yes to God like Mary did. And perhaps, we would finally arrive at a point in our life where we could not just accept, but graciously embrace God’s plan for salvation for us even if it entails pains and sufferings like Christ did. Begin by giving your yes to Mary, she surely gives us ways how to say our Totus Tuus to God.
Let us all say our yes to God, like the sweet, humble servant, handmaid of the Lord. Yes, be it done according to your will, O God. Fiat voluntas tua.
Testimony
The retreat was a faith-filled experience for me. God affirmed to me again His faithfulness through the care of Mary. Despite the pandemic situations, we were able to conduct this in person and online showing Mary’s way of caring for her children. The prayer sessions felt powerful to me. I was looking forward to praying with everybody in the retreat. The morning prayer gave me inspiration to be with God, Mary and retreat participants. The evening prayers refreshed my soul before going to bed. Indeed, there was power in prayers said together as community.
Sharing by the Montfortian Associates helped me to experience the wonders that Mary had brought to each one of us. And the guidance of our Spiritual Directors during the one-on-one sessions became a visible sign to me that God is always present.
On the last day of retreat was the renewal of our consecration. As I attended the retreat via zoom, I went to Chinese Mass early in the morning as a preparation for the renewal. The readings and union with Jesus in the Eucharist helped me to learn to be evangeliser like Mary and to radiate love, which even a baby the womb was able to feel it.
Finally, the retreat was closed with mass celebration by Fr. Martin Low, OFM and with the renewal of our vows on being consecrated to Jesus through Mary.
I hope next year we can all attend the consecration face to face.
By Roselily Hazel, Montfortian Associate