GRACE TO BE BORN
Starting with a Miracle
Starting with a Miracle
THIS month of May, Grace To Be Born marks its 15th Founding Anniversary. Why May? Read on…
GRACE TO BORN has embraced as its Patron Saint Our Lady of Guadalupe, Protectress of Unborn Children.
Devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe began way back in 1531. Tradition has it that Mama Mary appeared to an Aztec (part of an ethnic group in Mexico) named Juan Diego, in Guadalupe, a city in northeastern Mexico– who converted to Christianity.
Mary appeared on Tepeyac Hill (now a suburb of Mexico City) twice. On her second appearance, Juan Diego opened his cloak and a dozen roses fell out. An image of Mary was imprinted on the cloak — this image now at the Basilica of Guadalupe.
Online accounts on Our Lady say that when she appeared on Tepeyac Hill, she introduced herself as Mother of God and Mother of Humanity. So, to this day, she has been proclaimed as Patron Saint of Mexico and Patroness of the Americas.
Apparently since “humanity” connotes human life, Aztec art presents an image of Mary as pregnant. Note that in the image, Mary is wearing around her waist a black girdle– a symbol of pregnancy. So, in 1999, Pope John Paul II named her Protectress of Unborn Children.
Divine Design
Fast forward to the Year 2008. In August 2008, preaching at The Feast, then still being held at the Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City, Bro. Bo Sanchez talked about the evils of abortion.
By Divine Design, among the audience happened to be Bro. Rey Ortega, brainchild of most of our Mercy Ministries, with his supportive wife, Sis. Myrna.
Also, by God’s grace, a month before, in July 2008, Bro. Rey and Sis. Myrna just came from a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in Mexico City. There, they learned about Our Lady being the Protectress of the Unborn.
And the couple sadly noted there was no ministry in the Philippines focused on saving the unborn.
Bro. Bo and the couple, along with supporters, were able to meet to discuss establishing such a ministry on May 8, 2009.
May 8, happens to be the birthday of Sis. Pilar Sanchez (below right), Bro. Bo’s mother, a staunch supporter of Grace.
Long story short, Grace To Be Born was born on May 9, 2009.
No doubt, Grace To be Born is God’s Design. Because the following Sunday, May 10, happened to be Mother’s Day —just the right day to give Grace as gift to the women the Ministry would hence take care of.
Grace To Be Born maintains a home for pregnant women in crisis, taking care of them throughout the nine months of their pregnancy in a Grace Home, providing board and lodging, medical care, and spiritual nourishment the mothers need to cope with their situation.
After giving birth to her baby, a mother may opt to bring home her baby. Or, for one reason or another, she may opt to leave the child in an orphanage which Grace maintains right in the Grace Home. Grace also has set up a foster care program which is duly recognized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Above, the cover photo of the Grace To Be Born Facebook page explaining the Foster Care Program.
Relentless Mission
Led by Executive Director Sis. Ester Palacio (center) are the courageous frontliners serving Grace mothers and babies amid the challenges of the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic.
Yes, Grace relentlessly pursues its mission. Also on its FB page, it posts campaigns against abortion.
Indeed, to give babies the grace to be born.
