The International Marian Festival took place on May 3 at Emmanuel Parish in Delray Beach, moving mostly indoors due to rainy weather. Bishop Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez attended the event to bless both the faithful and numerous depictions of the Virgin Mary from around the world.
The festival highlighted devotion to Mary and brought together people from various backgrounds. After praying the joyful and luminous mysteries of the rosary in multiple languages, Bishop Rodríguez spoke inside Emmanuel Church about Our Lady of Altagracia, who is considered a spiritual mother for many in the Dominican Republic. He shared his recent experience celebrating Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Altagracia in Higüey.
“This is the most beautiful church you can find in the Dominican Republic, where hundreds of thousands of people every single month go to ask for every type of blessing and present their intentions, and to also accomplish fulfilled promises, pledges that they made to the Lord and to the Blessed Virgin Mary,” Rodríguez said.
He continued: “This is a very interesting reality that Our Lady of Altagracia is considered to be a national symbol of the homeland. It’s not only for the Catholics, but for every Dominican, which is also why at the center of the Dominican coat of arms you find the Bible opened to John 8:32, ‘You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” The bishop noted that “The Truth Will Set You Free” is also his episcopal motto.
Rodríguez discussed other devotions such as those dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico and Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal. He encouraged attendees to bring their sorrows and hardships before Mary during times marked by threats to peace and unity. “We always receive the blessing that only a mother can give us, the blessing of love, … bringing us closer to … her Son,” he said.
Throughout this festival dedicated prayers were offered including a litany, consecration prayers, Divine Praises and Benediction. The bishop thanked Father Gaudioso Zamora as well as Father Theodore Ihedoro and parishioners for hosting. Following services indoors, statues depicting Mary were displayed under a covered pavilion by parish groups across different communities; local Vietnamese women performed a flower dance for Bishop Rodríguez.