The Our Lady of the Rosary comes to the Carolinas

The Our Lady of the Rosary Nuestra Senora de la Naval

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina—The statue of the Our Lady of the Rosary NuestraSenora de la Naval is making its round of home visits here at the Carolinas.

It had been a long journey for the religious icon known as Nuestra Senora de la Naval starting from the Philippines all the way to here in the Carolinas.

Slowly believers, devotees and even non-Catholics here in the Charlotte area flocked to the homes where the Lady of the La Naval is welcome.

A new rosary group is formed that is committed to spreading the beauty of the rosary and how the lady intercedes on behalf of the devotees.

Last Friday the Our Lady of the Rosary was welcomed in the home of Kathryna Ronquillo Antone at 1731 Garrett Road, Indian Trail, North Carolina C 28079, last December 18 at 7 p.m.

Nuestra Senora de la Naval was radiant in her yellow vestment and crown with gold colors illuminating the surroundings. In her Facebook page created for the event, Malette Aquino-Oliveros posted:

“Welcome to our newly formed La Naval Rosary group! I am so glad that one of our friends have signed up for the month of December to host our rosary prayer meeting.”

Malette served as president of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas (FACC) two years ago. The host Kathryna Antone asked friends to help her welcome Nuestra Senora de la Naval. “Pls. join me in welcoming "La Naval Mary" in our home,” she said.

A number of families already signified interest in attending the rosary. Oliveros is happy and inspired that the rosary group in honor of the Senora de la Naval is slowly forming here at the Carolinas.

The statue is at home at her house at Concord but she is inspired by some force to start the rosary group if only to spread the good news to the community.

The statue traveled from the Philippines eight years ago and was sent to Malette Aquino Oliveros by her sister in law Dr. Blanca Oliveros who was diagnosed with breast cancer eight years ago.

“She is now cancer free,” Malette said. The statue was sent via DHL as a thank you gift to our family. The statue became a permanent feature in her beautiful home.

Malette didn't start the rosary group since she belonged to the Servants of the Holy Rosary which her older brother Arthur belongs.

That was nine years ago and she and her husband belonged to the Holy Rosary group when they transferred here in Charlotte.

Several years passed since then and the Lady de la Naval stayed home Malette was driven to spread the devotion to the lady.

Then two years ago she became rhe president of the FACC and she made time to tell stories about her statue when there are visitors in her house.

Then last year her close friends Dr. Emily and Ben Lorenzo asked if they can start the rosary group. “That was the start and I brought the La Naval Lady to the Lorenzos and we prayed the rosary,” Malette said.

Then another friend Lalaine Castillo who heard about the Lady joined the group in saying the rosary when there is a family requesting for the lady to visit their homes.

“I invited the two families and Tracy and Mike Borja to our house to pray,” Malette said. Suddenly, Kaye Antone called Malette and asked to join the rosary group.

Now, there are eight families in the group. Lota Mascarenas, a devout Catholic, volunteered to print the prayers for Our Lady of La Naval Rosary group.

“This is just a great year for me to spread the word of our Virgin Mary to pray the Rosary,” Malette said. She recalled that Paul Amigo nspired her to form the rosary group.

“He called me years back and told me that there's some Filipinos around this area that I can call and asked them to join. He and his wife Nena Amigo are devoted to the Charlotte Rosary groups. They are one of the founders,” Malette said.

Malette admitted that her devotion to the rosary started when she was still a young girl. “My mom gave me a miraculous medal to pin on my under clothes to keep me safe from harm and temptations when I was growing up,” she said.

Malette said her mother's side of the family has an image of the Dolorosa, the weeping Mary who is at the procession during the Holy Week observance in Calauag, Quezon province.

The rosary is held in devotion to the Virgin Mary. It consists of a set number of specific prayers. First are the introductory prayers: one Apostles’ Creed (Credo), one Our Father (the Pater Noster or the Lord’s Prayer), three Hail Mary’s (Ave’s), one Glory Be (Gloria Patri).

In the Philippines, the months of October and May are the busiest months for the devotees of the Virgin Mary. As a Catholic myself, I firmly believe that those who invoke the intercession of the mother under any title would be happy and find peace in their lives.

The rosary devotees at the house of the Antones familty

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who worked as a nanny and is now employed as a sub-teacher and a part-time teacher assistant in one of the school systems in the Carolinas.

Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.

You can also connect with her through her email susanap.dennis@yahoo.com as well as her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)