Thousands pay homage to Mary

By Freddie G. Lazaro

STA. MARIA, Ilocos Sur— More than one hundred thousand Catholic devotees, tourists and local residents from different places in the country flooded the historic NuestraSeñora de la Asuncion, here, to celebrate the feast of the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary August 15.

Bishop Ernesto A. Salgado of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia led the mass offered to the parish’s patron saint, NuestraSeñora de la Asuncion.

All parish priests from the archdiocese assisted the prelate during the mass.

In his homily, Bishop Salgado recalled the love and sacrifices of Blessed Virgin as a mother of God.

“The Blessed Virgin Mary is not God but she is the mother of God as she gave birth to Jesus Christ – the savior of all mankind. Thus, she showed her great love to God by following the will of God,” the prelate said in his homily.

“In several apparitions, the Blessed Virgin Mary had kept calling the people to turn away from sin and serve God by following His will,” Salgado added.

The bishop posed a challenge to the more than 100,000 people who flooded in and out the church to attend the mass to follow the call of the Blessed Virgin Mary through her intercession to gain eternal life.