To look to Mary even as Rosary month closes

KOTA KINABALU – Sacred Heart Cathedral closed the Rosary Month (October) with Mass and a procession of Mary’s statue Oct 30.

A 300-crowd gathered at dusk at the Grotto, braving the mosquitos, to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary for the close of the month dedicated to the Rosary.

A bevy of veiled young girls walked before Mary’s statue as it processed from the Grotto to the Cathedral through the by-road, followed by Fr Paul Lo and the parishioners.

The procession began with a tri-lingual recitation of the Rosary with the first decade at the Grotto, made three strategically-lit stops for three decades, and ended with the fifth decade inside the Cathedral.  Mass proceeded after the recitation.

Fr Lo reflected with the faithful on the procession walk “We too are people walking on a journey.”

He added “We are blessed because we have Mary with us in our journey.”

Pointing to Mary, who inspires us and becomes the example for our faith, like a mustard seed, the rector said “If we want to go to heaven, follow Mary, the Star of the Sea.  She is the ‘guiding star’ on the way to Christ.”

Fr Lo also encouraged all to invoke Our Lady of the Rosary with her other title “Our Lady of Victories”, which was established after the victory of the military battle at Lepanto. 

“Mary is indeed ‘Our Lady of Victories’ for, with her motherly intercession, she helps us to win our daily battles against evil.  She shows us the tenderness that only a mother can show to her children. She will help us to increase our faith,” said Fr Lo. – CS