COM-VMY Philippines – 150 years and counting…

Last November 2018, the Children of Mary- Vincentian Marian Youth Philippines celebrated 150 years of their presence in the Philippines. This grand celebration showed a wide participation of the members of the Association who, months before have realized a pilgrimage of the image of our Mother to all units of the COM-VMY in the Philippines.

For the closing ceremony of this celebration, the COM-VMY was graced by the presence of the International President Yancarlos Carrasco, as well as the participation of the Sub-Director General of the Association Father Irving Amaro who, from the 12th of November participated in various activities related to this celebration.

The Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion-Cebu was the first to receive the international visit of Yancarlos and Father Irving. They participated in the typical dance “Sinulog” to the “Senior Santo Niño”, and received the warm welcome of the student body of this school. After, they shared to the young people from the different branches of the Vincentian Family the line of action of the VMY International.

The Cebu Region Unit met with the International President and the Sub-Director and in the said meeting, the adult leaders showed the Vincentian projects that they are doing through the realization of the Marian Center, while the younger members of the Association face the “challenge” of reviving the life of some units and recover the number of units that existed a few years ago with the help of the adults of the COM-VMY who committed to be a part of this challenge. After the meeting, the group surprised the International President with a birthday dinner celebration since Yancarlos had his birthday a few days before.

Continuing the visit in Cebu, they also went to Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion-Mandaue, where they spent some time with the VMY members in this school. An angelic choir of children sang “(There can be miracles) When You Believe” as part of the introductory presentation of the lines of actions of the International COM-VMY.

The Manila Cathedral was the chosen venue by the National Council for the grand celebration of the 150 anniversary of the Association where members from all over the world gathered to give thanks to God for making a reality the desire of the Virgin Mary in the Philippines. Later, all participants from the Cathedral were transported to the Our Lady of the Miraculous Shrine, where everyone enjoyed the different artistic activities and testimonies of reflection of the COM-VMY members for last few years. Yancarlos took the opportunity to thank the Association in the Philippines for all the grand contributions the members of the Association have done to the International Community, with the participation of three great volunteers to the International Secretariat in different periods.

As part of this festivity, the members had a pilgrimage in Manila in some identified Vincentian places. Among them was at Concordia College, the place where the first COM-VMY unit was formed in the country. It was a very special moment to thank the Daughters of Charity for their collaboration and the opportunity given to the young people these years.

Our International President y Sub-Director also visited the island of Iloilo, specifically at Colegio de Sagrado Corazon, where they shared with the young people of the Association the reality of the youth today and how we should behave as members of our Association.

In each visit of the International President to the different groups and units in the country, he emphasized to the youth the call of Pope Francis not to be “couch potatoes”, in a sense that as young Missionaries, and above all as children of Mary, we have to go out and preach the good news of the gospel to everyone. If it is necessary that we go out from our comfort zone to do this, then we have to do it. Everything is part of our commitment in saying “Here I am”, the motto that the International COM-VMY is promoting.  The Association in the Philippines is alive and is in the process of re-strengthening. Their love for our Mother Mary is enormous and palpable and she fills each member of the Association with grace. During these 150 years, she has been walking hand in hand with each member. With this, we know that we still have many more years to go. 150 years towards Jesus with Mary.