A FLORIDA CATHOLIC RESOURCE: HOW TO PRAY THE ROSARY

The rosary as a local pilgrimage

Boniface Calayag is looking to create “The Path of Mary” in the Diocese of Palm Beach – 20 shrines representing the 20 mysteries of the Holy Rosary at 20 parishes for a pilgrimage route of shrines.

LINDA REEVES | FLORIDA CATHOLIC PALM BEACH BUREAU EDITOR

Posted: 07.01.09

“This is the mother of Christ and the mother of religion. I feel that this (project) could be one of the unifying factors that could get the different parishes to work together.”

Boniface Calayag seeks to cause some excitement and encourage prayer here with the Path of Mary.

PALM BEACH GARDENS | Boniface Calayag truly believes a tradition taught to him by his mother is opening a path to Mary here in the Diocese of Palm Beach.

“I always remember my mother saying, ‘When you go into a new church, the first thing you do is say a prayer and then you make a wish,’” the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola parishioner told the Florida Catholic.

He said a prayer to Mary and made a special wish as he visited Quezon City’s St. Paul of the Apostles in his homeland of the Philippines for the first time to attend Mass there in March.

“I wished that we would be successful in this project. … It is going to be a major, ambitious project,” Calayag said.

Calayag was referring to “The Path of Mary.” The initiative now in the planning stage is patterned after the Philippines’ “Way of Mary” that involves a network of 20 shrines at 20 sites one mile apart along a stretch of highway. Each shrine represents one of the 20 mysteries of the Holy Rosary.

The Philippines’ Way of Mary serves as a pilgrimage route. Faithful pilgrims walk or drive from shrine to shrine and site to site and while there reflect on Christ and Mary, pray and recite the rosary.

“Millions visit the shrines,” Calayag explained.

He seeks to cause some excitement and encourage prayer here with the Path of Mary. He has the support of his parish’s Catholic Men’s Fellowship and hopes other parishes will join the effort.

The Philippines project was completed more than three years ago. Calayag visited the shrines on his trip home during Lent this year. “It is a big thing there,” he said.

The shrines were built on privately owned lands stretching from metro Manila to Antipolo City, and the late Cardinal Jaime Sin came up with the idea to encourage prayer and devotion. Calayag wants to place the Palm Beach Diocese version of the shrines on parish grounds.

“Mary has always been my favorite saint and growing up we were always devotees of Mary,” said Calayag. “This is the mother of Christ and the mother of religion. I feel that this (project) could be one of the unifying factors that could get the different parishes to work together,” he explained.

Calayag is a retired certified public accountant who has lived in the United States for more than 50 years. He is married to Marietta, a member of the parish’s Ladies Auxiliary and a prison ministry volunteer. The Calayags have four children and came to the cathedral parish after moving from Connecticut in 2004.

Calayag, known as “Boni” by many, is president of the parish’s newly formed Society of the Blessed Sacrament, a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 6988 and a singer in the parish choir. He is also a member of the men’s group of 40 at the cathedral parish. The fellowship organization strongly backs Calayag’s Mary path project, and is sponsoring it as a group effort.

“We are going to do some planning over the summer,” said Don Rochon, president of the Catholic Men’s Fellowship. “We are going to get the Knights involved. I think it is a great idea. We are going to see how many parishes we can get involved, and we are going forward with it.”

The concept will require a total of 20 parishes, each of which would agree to finance through fundraisers the installation of a particular mystery shrine, working with a committee overseeing the design of the entire Mary Path.

“The statues will conform to size and shape,” said Calayag.

The statue design involves a 6–foot–high pedestal that will hold a statue nearly 10 feet high. Each statue will be encased in an arch enclosure. The title of the rosary mystery will be placed on the structure along with an inscription explaining it. Calayag estimates that the cost will be nearly $10,000 per shrine.

“I like the idea,” said Rose Mendez, a member of the Legion of Mary at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola, a group that recites the rosary daily and visits nursing homes, prisons and locations near abortion clinics to pray. “We are a group of ladies who are very Marian. I believe and have a great faith in the rosary. You can do anything with Mary. She helps us get to her son.”

Calayag and the fellowship group have formed committees, written letters to priests and diocesan officials explaining the Path of Mary concept. Calayag’s son, an aeronautical engineer, is designing a series of maps with possible host parish locations.

“It sounds like a wonderful idea,” said Mary Jane Watterson, a Mary devotee and parishioner of the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola, who recently joined the Society of the Blessed Sacrament. “It sounds beautiful to me. I am praying for him.”

Organizers hope the shrines, once completed, will encourage Catholics to visit the various host parishes with shrines to pray the rosary, reflect on Mary and Jesus and grow in faith.

“If you are a rosary devotee and you want to say the rosary in a very special way, you will be able to go from church to church to pray a decade of the rosary,” said Calayag about his vision.

“Even though it is a hardship to go from church to church, each shrine will be an oasis for people. The pilgrimage from shrine to shrine will renew devotions to Mary.”

Calayag said he has faith that once the prayerful hear about the Path of Mary, parishes and individuals will come forward to join in the effort.

“Anything that has something to do with Mary happens,” he explained. “If you ask her intently and prayerfully, you will get it.”

For more information about the Path of Mary, call 561–317–1126.

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