PRAYER-FUN JOURNEY: The Children’s Rosary Pilgrimage

The children anticipated that it was going to be a prayerful journey, but they did not quite expect that the activity would be so much fun as well! On February 6, 2010, children from CFC Kids for Family and Life (CFCKFL), together with students from Libis Elementary School, trekked on board huge air-conditioned buses to the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Cathedral of Antipolo for the Children’s Rosary Pilgrimage.

The starting point of the Children’s Rosary Pilgrimage is the first station of The Way of Mary Shrine, which is the First Joyful Mystery located at the EDSA Shrine. They will then move on to the succeeding stations/mysteries, situated along various points along Ortigas Avenue, Ortigas Avenue Extension, and up to the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Cathedral in Antipolo City. The children will be transported by buses sponsored by various partners of the Children’s Rosary Movement/Family Rosary Crusade. On board, the children will be given the opportunity to reflect on each mystery and pray the Holy Rosary, facilitated by parish catechists.

Msgr. Dan Sta. Maria, Parish Priest of Christ the King Parish who sponsored the pilgrimage transportation expenses for the month of February, offered that the children gather in his parish before they are transported to the EDSA Shrine. After explaining what a pilgrimage is, he gamely posed for photographs with the pilgrimage participants. He sent them off by 7:30AM with a prayer.

Catechists from the Sister Handmaids of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul Orphanage explained each mystery to the children, allowing them to appreciate and reflect on the life of Jesus and Mary. They arrived at the Antipolo Cathedral in time for the 9:00 AM mass, celebrated by Msgr. Rigoberto S. de Guzman and Fr. Roque D’ Costa of the Family Rosary Crusade. Together with some cathedral catechists, Msgr. Rigo had fellowship with the children and their respective CFCKFL Coordinators and teachers, provided meals for the pilgrims, and take-home “suman” (sticky rice). They also explained the history of the Our Lady of Good Voyage. What made the trip extra special was the privilege given the children to kiss the mantle of Our Lady!

On their way home, the children prayed the Holy Rosary. It was a very meaningful prayer, especially after deeply understanding and appreciating each mystery. On board, they also answered Rosary trivia questions, won prizes, and took home loot bags, courtesy of the Ortigas Foundation. The participants were brought back to Christ the King Parish. The values learned and the inspiration the children had will not end in this activity. The monthly CFCKFL gatherings will serve as a venue for the coordinators to fortify the learnings.

This activity is another aspiration of our beloved cardinal, the late Jaime Cardinal Sin. His desire was for the children who are so close to the hearts of Jesus and Mary, to go on a Rosary Pilgrimage. This was the second, the first having been held on January 9, 2010. The pilgrimage will be conducted every first Saturday of the month, except for the month of October which is the Children’s Rosary Rally month.

A collaborative undertaking of the Family Rosary Crusade, the Children’s Rosary Movement, Ortigas Foundation, and CFC Foundation for Family and Life, this pilgrimage will gather not only the members of CFCKFL, but also children from CFCFFL’s Restoration Villages and Mission Villages, and partner schools (private and public ) of the CFCFFL Education Ministry and CFCKFL. A CFCKFL District will be assigned for this monthly prayer-fun journey, as follows:

Contributed by:

Myra M. Menguito
CFC-FFL Education Ministry