4227_The Feast of the Immaculate Conception in novitiate
December 12, 2016
Lawaan, the Philippines, 8 December 2016 -- The Novices presented Academy in Honor of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception entitled “Wala” (Nothing). Whenever someone would ask about the title of the academia, the respond would be, “Wala” or “nothing” in English. Honestly, there was really no title even during the first weeks of practices. Maybe this was a sign that Mary wanted us to highlight her nothingness, her being wala – her being Immaculate or no stain of sin, her humility and the like.
The play revolved in the story of how a street boy was able to solve the parochial problem for the coming feast of Mary, Immaculate Conception. This academy also intended to introduce to the people the “Year of the Parish as a Communion of Communities” – this year’s theme set out by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippine (CBCP) as part of the preparation for the 500th year anniversary of Catholicism in the country.
The academy was staged twice – on the eve of the feast and on the feast itself. And it was attended by religious, priests, lay mission partners, benefactors, members of the Salesian family, and many young people.
Fr. Amelito Racelis, SDB, rector of the Don Bosco Formation Center- Lawaan, gave the good night talk. He said that it is not about the crowning of Mary with the golden crown, but being the golden crown itself. He also emphasized the emptiness that Mary had, which gave way for God to fill her with His grace.
