Toronto, Ontario: St. Patrick's National Shrine Parish

Looking Up to Mama Mary

Airie Santiago:

As we suffer all kinds of setbacks and anxieties, Mama Mary is there reminding us that she too had suffered. So we pray to her in our homes, and she continues to stay with us and protect us under her maternal mantle.

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Mama Mary, My Beacon

Airie Santiago:

There are many instances in my life that I felt and saw Mama Mary’s guiding hand; even in trivial matters, but they are too many to enumerate. So, when people ask me about my devotion to Mama Mary, I tell them a few of these stories.

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Mama Mary During the Pandemic

Faye Arellano:

Covid was a shock and its after-effects will be with us for the rest of our lives. But some of this is very positive. The world shrunk because of the lockdown, but our interconnectedness expanded tremendously. We remain banded together in spirit and solidarity through prayers and always under the loving gaze of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.

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Mary Leads Us To Serve

Faye Arellano:

In my adult faith journey, I have always considered the Blessed Virgin Mary as the first and most perfect disciple to imitate. She’s is a model for the church and also our mother, who leads us to her Son, Jesus, so that we may all embrace the true meaning of living the gospel life. For the Word of God to be alive, it has to play out in our daily life. And that is especially true in a life lived for others.

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Gate of Heaven

Maria Luxbacher:

Ever since I converted to the Catholic Faith, I have thought about how privileged Catholics are to have Mary as a mother in their journey through the Valley of Tears (our life on earth) which is so wonderful at times but also many times so painful.

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Making Plans

Marieileen McCabe:

Down through the centuries, for those of us who pray, we go first to Mary. We take our problems to her. The big ones and the small ones. And we get answers. Not always what we are expecting. Not always what we were planning for. Over the years I have learned not just to turn to Mary, but also to keep my mind open to what happens next.

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Who is Mama Mary?

Airie Santiago:

As I developed from childhood and into my teens, Mama Mary became my ever reliable and constant guide; assisting me through all the trials and worries associated with growing into adulthood. She became my confidant.

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Mama Mary and My Family

Airie Santiago:

We try to teach our grandchildren and expose them to the same spiritual life and prayer practice we did to their parents; confident that Mama Mary will be there for them; making sure that the seeds that we plant will blossom.

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Answered Prayers

Deanna Andrew:

There is no request, however small, however large, no time, day or night, no burden, light or heavy that should prevent us from reaching out to our Mother of Perpetual Help. She is always there for us, waiting, wanting wondering if we will call on her most powerful name.

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My Journey with Mary

Faye Arellano:

With her tender, loving care Mary walked with me in my difficult journey as she led me to her Son, Jesus.  Her gentle presence couldn’t be more palpable each time I seemed to feel desolate.  She was there to console me; lift up my spirit and she encouraged me to place my trust completely in her Son. 

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Mary and Our Prayer Requests

Irene Mihaljek:

Mary resides in heaven with all the saints and the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Her timetable is written in eternity. She is Our Mother of Perpetual Help, and she will always bring our prayer requests to her Son. It doesn’t mean we always get what we want, but it does mean we get the help we need.

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Mary and My Son

Karen Keays:

Like every mom, I want what’s best for my children. I want them to know that they are loved, I want them to be cared for and I want them to know that God loves and cares for them even more than I do. Gods works so powerfully through Mary and this is such a huge gift. It’s a gift I find more and more wonderful the longer I’m a mom.

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Working with Mary

Loretta Conte:

I feel very content and happy working at the National Shrine. What a blessing it is to be able walk over to the church anytime, and to spend a few moments alone before the icon, where I can pray and entrust to her all my worries and concerns, and give thanks for all the joys and blessings of my life.

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Mary’s Love?

Margarette Almonte:

As I religiously participate in Wednesday’s novena, I feel a deeper connection with Mary. A connection founded in love and care that I feel I’m now able to share with my patients at work. Patients who are first time mothers and who struggle to make sense of the overwhelming experience of the first few days of having a baby.

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Learning from Mary

Maria Luxbacher:

We, therefore, cannot be selfish and keep this faith to ourselves. But we ought to go and tell everyone the good news. We are Christians, and like Mary, we rejoice in the good news.

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Home With Mary

Marieileen McCabe:

I discovered the Redemptorist mission to perpetuate the novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help and seeing the beautiful shrine and weekly devotions I knew Our Lady had led me there.  I knew I was so at home.

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Trust in Mary

Matthew Marquardt:

Every day, in one way or another, I renew my consecration to Mary, and every day Mary finds news ways of responding to me. The strength and the beauty of her support make me cry, literally, almost every day.

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Mary and the Rosary

Michael Dizon:

During my faith-journey, Mary became integral to my life. Where once the rosary had seemed almost boring, it was now a powerful force for meditation and portal to receive God’s grace. I was coming to know Mary's role as the Mother of God and our spiritual Mother.

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Our Lady on the Bus

Patricia Derose:

Just as my now departed mother was always there to lift my spirits, kiss my bruises better and I could rest my head on her shoulder to be one with her, that is the same feeling I have with Mary.

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What Good is Faith Without Mourning?

Rayleigh Becker:

Mother Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, mourns and weeps at the glorious death of the Lord. She invites us to share in her suffering for the body of Christ … which includes all Christians around the world.

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