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Summary
The 45th Anniversary
honoring Our Lady of the Roses, Mary Help of Mothers on
Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28, was an exhilarating and
history-making occasion. About 400
pilgrims attended the Anniversary Vigil and 175 attended the
Anniversary Banquet at the LaGuardia
Marriott, but for the first time a Roman Catholic bishop was in attendance.
It was impressive and uplifting to see so many praying
the Holy Rosary for world peace while braving, most probably, the wettest Anniversary Vigil since it all began on June 18, 1970.
The torrential rains or holy water never abated for the nearly
4-hour prayer service. It is
for good reason Our Lady identifies this holy Shrine as "a center of
atonement"
(Sept. 7, 1974).
Michael Mangan,
SMWA President,
delivered a powerful and encouraging talk on yet another bishop who had
expressed high praise for the SMWA Mission, even urging regular attendance at
the Sunday Holy Hour for priests.
We were honored to
host Archbishop Thomas, who came privately as a pilgrim, and attended the 45th Anniversary Banquet, Latin Mass, Organizers'
Conference and Precious Blood / Visitation Vigil (June 30). The good archbishop left very much impressed and loaded with graces to share with the millions of
Catholic sons
and daughters in his charge.
What a joy
and tremendous consolation it must have been
for Our Blessed Mother to be among Her own who made such great sacrifices to
come in pilgrimage in pouring rain to honor Her under the
glorious title
of Our Lady of the Roses, Mary Help of Mothers.
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