By Arabella Balderama and Alex Lauricio

On Friday, September 8, 2023, the whole Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) community gathered at the third floor of Formation Learning Center (FLC) to commemorate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary through a Eucharistic celebration presided by Rev. Fr. Arthur Nebrao, SJ.

The birthday of Fr. James O’Brien, SJ, the father of Tulong Dunong, was also celebrated simultaneously during the mass.

Music for Environment and National Development, a non-governmental organization, was the primary beneficiary of the mass, officially marking the beginning of the “Season of Creation” which would run from September until October 4, 2023—the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

Rev. Fr. Arthur Nebrao, SJ, the homilist, discussed how the month of September is something considered to be ordinary yet is made special due to the birth of Mother Mary.

“Is there anything special about September?” he asked, citing that aside from this month being the start of Christmas preparations, it is also the peak of the habagat season, with typhoons entering in and out of the country.

Furthermore, Fr. Nebrao mentioned that to celebrate the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the people should embody Mary and Joseph’s courage in facing their fears and worries.

“Do not fear. If we fear, the ordinary will never be special,” Rev. Fr. Arthur Nebrao, SJ said, adding that finding God in all things would make the ordinary special.

Meanwhile, the class of 12-Anchieta was assigned to create the publication materials and slides used during the mass, whilst students from 12-Miki were assigned to be readers, and 12-Navarro took charge of designing the stage backdrop.

A Rite of Commission was also done to renew and inaugurate the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, alongside the Rite of Induction for the ASHS Sanggunian Core.

Nativity of Mary

Mother Mary was born to her own two saints on Earth—figuratively and literally—as her parents were St. Joachim and St. Anne. While there are no Biblical references regarding the birth of Mary, historical accounts place it around 20 AD, somewhere beside a temple in Jerusalem. Art pieces depict her nativity as her being wrapped in drapes whilst being held by other women and St. Anne laying on a bed.

Despite being known as a prolific figure in Christianity, the day of Mary’s nativity was business as usual for the rest of Nazareth. There were no wise men to dispense wisdom and gifts from kingdoms around the world, nor parades and confetti. The only people who celebrated that day were her parents.

Little did Mary know that her entrance into the world did not only mark an important event in Christianity but also served as the matchstick that lit the fuse of the Church’s eventual inception—while others claim that it was Peter, Jesus’ apostle, who formed the foundation of the Church, some scholars say that the Church was formed the moment she gained her noblest follower—Mama Mary herself.

Bringing Mary into the world made September all the more special and sacred. She went through the silence of the air during the moment of her birth so that one day, scholars can celebrate the birth of Jesus with liveliness and noise.