Calabrian Family Celebrates New Year and Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Cagayan de Oro City – On the first day of the year 2025, the Calabrian Family in Cagayan de Oro City joyfully celebrates the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. It has been tradition of the Calabrian Priests, Brothers, and Sisters and children of Calabrian Children’s Foundation (CCF) that they gather together every new year for this annual celebration.

Fr. Isagani Autentico, PSDP presided over the eucharistic celebration. In his homily, he explained the exemplary role that Mary played in salvation history. He encouraged the assembly to imitate her in her humility and fidelity to do God’s will.

The solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is defined by the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD. This is in response to the heresy of Nestorianism that taught that Mary only gave birth to the human nature of Jesus, rather than the entire Second Person of the Holy Trinity.

Nevertheless, Mary deserved that title because she conceived and gave birth to Jesus, the Son of God. In honoring her, the Church also honors Christ who is fully God and fully Human. Thus, the Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 487 asserts that, “What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ.”

After the mass, a sumptuous lunch was shared by everyone. Then, some moments of games and relaxation followed.