No matter what may lie ahead, I know Mary, Mother of Mercy will always be there for me.
By Fr. Angelo Casimiro, MIC
It's May, the month traditionally devoted to Our Lady. And I would like to share my conversion story and the role Mary played in it.
Even though I was born and raised Catholic in a Filipino home, the family’s Catholicism during my childhood was something cultural more than anything else. I knew my prayers, I received all the Sacraments, I went to Catholic school for part of my education, and I attended Sunday Mass with my family.
However, when I became a young adult, the practice of the Catholic faith was something I just did because it was part of my Filipino culture. I really did not have a personal relationship with God.
It wasn’t until my conversion (or reversion) experience in Oct. 2000 at the age of 36 that my life was completely turned around and I truly embraced my Catholic faith. And I attribute it to two things — Divine Mercy and Medjugorje.
Divine Mercy
Before my conversion, my best friend went through a profound conversion after discovering the Divine Mercy message and devotion. So he told me about it and started giving me books about Divine Mercy, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the saints, etc. I would read them. I think they helped open my heart because by the time he invited me to attend the Medjugorje Peace Conference in Irvine, California, in Oct. 2000, my heart was ready. I was profoundly touched by Eucharistic Adoration, which I had never experienced before.
After the conference, I felt like I had been infused with the Holy Spirit. I started going to daily Mass, went to Confession, prayed the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet, attended Eucharistic Adoration, and educated myself as much as I could about the Catholic faith. I attribute it all to the intercession of Mary.
That’s why I ended up booking a pilgrimage to Medjugorje six weeks later.
It was on my first pilgrimage to Medjugorje in Dec. 2000 where I encountered the Blessed Mother in my heart and where she helped me in going through a deeper conversion. It was after coming back from that trip when I felt God calling me to the priesthood and religious life.
Before Medjugorje, I really had no relationship with Our Lady. All I remember is that our family would pray the Rosary every time a pilgrim statue of Mary would be visiting our home. I remember seeing her pictures and statues in all the Catholic churches. I attended schools that were named after her. But that was about it. I really did not know her.
Everything was so new to me, and it felt like Our Lady was just taking me by the hand and teaching me. I believe she helped me in the discernment of my vocation. Even though I was only with one religious community for a short period of time, it was where the Lord and Our Lady wanted me because of the experience I gained from being there.
Match made in Heaven
I was eventually led to the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception and entered the congregation as a postulant in Aug. 2005. The Marians were all about Divine Mercy and the Immaculate Conception — two very important things in my conversion and my spirituality at that point.
It felt like a match made in Heaven.
My love and devotion to Our Lady, especially under the title of Mother of Mercy, especially grew during my years of formation with the Marians. It was strengthened when my mother, Susie, was dying from breast cancer in late 2009. Every time I prayed the Rosary with and for my mom, I felt as if Mary was there with us holding our hands. I could feel her tangible presence after my mother’s death.
When my father, Ariel, passed away on Sept. 14, 2021, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, I was in the chapel putting up a statue of Our Lady of Sorrows in preparation for her feast the following day. Mary was with me then, consoling me, as I cried and thought about my dad and looked up at the Cross.
No matter what may lie ahead, I know Mary, Mother of Mercy will always be there for me.
Our Lady, Mother of Mercy, pray for us!
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