Rosa Mystica Health Mission takes place every year as an initiative of ACIM Asia, an association of Catholic Doctors and Nurses dedicated to the corporal work of mercy of taking care of the sick.

Rosa Mystica is the inspiration and guide of this endeavor, and She, the all-holy Mary, mother of God and all men, pulls together volunteers from around the world to converge on a designated spot in the Philippines to give themselves to Mary’s needy children. In this beautiful movement of love, inspired by Grace, 45 foreign volunteers joined an impressive body of more than 150 native workers and together they served Mary’s Medical Mission coming to the aid of the poor in need.

Sometimes, the physical needs were acute. For example, during the Mission, one young man, sick for years, was brought to the Mission, went into severe stress upon the spot, received immediate attention from the doctors, received last rites and was rushed to the Hospital where he expired, after receiving the sacraments he would never have received without the Mission. Another young girl arrived at the Mission, went into extreme stress, and she really died… her heart stopped beating for around 3-4 minutes. The Priest on duty was called and as doctors continued Cardiac Resuscitation, he administered last rites. The girl was placed on a stretcher and while cardio-pulmonary resuscitation was continued she was rushed into an ambulance. The Priest followed and jumped in because he had not yet finished the prayers. But as he finished the prayers and the ambulance turned the corner onto the National Highway, the girl awoke, returning to life. She returned to the Mission two days later for a check-up.

Like past years, Rosa Mystica Mission was attended by some 2,250 patients. The difference this year was that the Mission was a part of Mary’s Mission, the great Pilgrimage of Our Lady of Fatima throughout2100 km running from the South to the North of the Philippines. During the first phase of Mary’s Mission, Our Lady of Fatima had stopped at the city of Alabel, 12 km southeast of General Santos, and there, the Mayor of Alabel had consecrated his city to the Immaculata and 80 citizens had consecrated themselves to Our Lady in the MI. Based on this fact, Rosa Mystica chose Alabel as the site of Mary’s Mission.

As usual during the Medical Mission, willing patients were taught catechism and many were brought into the confraternity of the Scapular, while 105 generous patients joined the Militia Immaculatae. In addition, there were 5 Extreme Unctions and 1 Baptism.

Meanwhile, as Oblate Sisters and a few catechists remained on hand at the Medical Mission, catechetical teams were deployed to various areas surrounding the Medical Mission for a continuation of Mary’s Mission. In 11 such spur apostolates to 10 different locations, 828 souls consecrated themselves as soldiers in Mary’s Army. So all in all, the ACIM Asia Medical Mission was the occasion for gathering into the M.I. 933 new Knights.

As the Mission has come to an end, the catechetical work continues. Follow up to initial graces never ends and many obstacles, too many to count remain. Perhaps the most heart-rendering one is the lack of workers, the lack of catechists and limitations of the few Priests available to support the catechetical teams. For this, the MI is really a great hope. Indeed, the third obligation of the M.I. is “To take advantage of every adequate means for the cause of Immaculata, taking into account one’s condition, status and circumstances — may each Knight consider this using his own prudence and fervor.” May this spirit of the MI lead some Knights to this work of active follow-up.

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