Mary's Mission Tour beginning the Friday before the Feast of Christ the King, has been on the Mission trail for 23 days and covered roughly 250 km. Pilgrims have walked on 17 of those days, while the remaining 6 were spent solely in apostolic activities - or a pause to prepare for a scheduled event. It is the Mission of Mary Herself, calling all men to return to God through Her Immaculate Heart.
This Mission, visibly manifest in the passage of Our Lady of Fatima seated 6 feet above ground on a dark blue Carossa and manned by Pilgrim Virgin Walkers, supported by a sound system, banners, and a team of Catechists, with a Chaplain, follows a 2000 km trail to reach as many souls as possible.
This long trek is also a symbolic act of apostolate that expresses the Catholic Heart of Mary - She wants all men in all places to be saved. Her Immaculate Heart is the last refuge and call of God to men today.
While in route, Pilgrim Walkers move Our Lady along the Mission trail, praying the Rosary, or meditating on the mysteries, or singing hymns, supported by a mobile sound system.
Catechists sometimes precede and sometimes follow Our Lady as they give out flyers, and prepare those who desire it, to receive the gifts of Our Lady such as a scapular or miraculous medal.
The Priest who follows the Pilgrimage, will give the scapular to those who request, along with some kind words on Our Lady, and an invitation to pray 3 Hail Marys and the Holy Rosary.
Occasionally, the sick in nearby homes will be visited and confessed. In this way, Our Lady's love for Her children is shown by deeds. The sacramentals are lasting mementoes that communicate grace according to the dispositions of those who give and receive them. More than 2000 Scapulars have been distributed in this way.
Along the 64 km from Marbel to General Santos, Mary's evening Missions in Tupi and Polomolok gathered groups of 40 people each for Mary's Mission conference. These were followed by 20 new Knights in Tupi and 35new Knights of the Immaculata in Polomolok.
During Missions in FVR and Kawas, satellites of General Santos, another 15 MIs were brought into Mary's Army. Including the MI enrollments made in Marbel at the beginning of Mary's Mission tour, and the facts that will be related below, 258 new Knights were consecrated to Our Lady by November 17, 2016.
Another key point of Mary's Mission has been to visit soldiers' check-points and camps, as well as Police stations. The Catholic Colonel of the 1002nd Batalion of the 10th Division received Our Lady while the Protestant Commandant of the Camp sent Her off with honors the following day. The Chaplain was given a room near the Commandant, PVWs were given cots and Our Lady was able to address and bless a handful of soldiers. Our Lady has also touched the heart of Major General Rafael Valencia who really desires Our Lady to visit all his soldiers along the Mission route.
We pray hard that by Her special powers of persuasion, invisible and unheard, a Militia Immaculatae can be established in the Philippine Armed forces.
As General Valencia has prepared Mary's way for his men of the 10th Agila Division, Mary's Mission Tour has already shown us that, while the consecration of individual Knights to Our Lady makes of real people living sacramentals, the consecration to Our Lady's service of Barangay Captains, Mayors and public officials is an even bigger grace.
For example, in General Santos, through the apostolate of Legion of Mary members preparing the way for their Queen, the Vice Mayor of General Santos and her first Council woman consecrated General Santos to the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady. She then called for a small conference on the following Tuesday. This was held for 30 or so officers of the Mayor's Office and 27 of them consecrated themselves to Our Lady in the Militia Immaculatae at the end of the Conference.
Meanwhile, Our Lady touched the heart of the Mayor of the town of Alabel, who likewise consecrated his town to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. That night, 28 of his people consecrated themselves to Our Lady in the Militia Immaculatae. The very next day, at Mary's evening Mission, more than 190 people from his town of Alabel attended the Mass and 52 consecrated themselves to Our Lady's service. Surely this shows that the acts of public officials brings blessings upon the people. May Our Lady renew this kind of act over and over again.
The Pilgrimage log book will tell a tale of slow, gentle progress, marked by special graces here and there. But the most tangible thing to Pilgrim Walkers may well be the spirit of gentle peace that is effused and the joyous gratitude of souls who participate in Mary's work. It is the method of the Immaculata to conquer Satan through Humility of heart and all the virtues and graces that take their seat in the heart. This we can see at work during Mary's Mission.
Mary's Mission as it is taking place right now in the Philippine Mary's Mission Tour is a small part of what Our Lady intends to do right now worldwide. Every Pilgrim Virgin statue going from House to House and every daily family Rosary is another form of Mary's Mission.
Indeed, wherever the Heart of Mary is, there is HER MISSION. It is a great comfort for the PVWs, catechists and Priests to be supported by so many prayers and sacrifices.
On the other hand, the more there are Mary's Missions in its various forms in more places in the world, the more will God shower His Graces on the world through the Immaculata.
Every son of Mary, and especially those consecrated to Her service, is a Mary's Mission missioner. His Rosary, his words, sacrifices and his works will make Our Lady's Heart and influence felt in the world around him. Thus, She will conquer all heresies throughout the world!
"O Mary, make me an instrument in your Immaculate and merciful hands to serve thee, so as to increase as much as possible, your honor in so many tepid souls... and thus to extend the Kingdom of the Sacred Heart of Jesus."