5 August 2018 was a special day for Catholic Church, as it was celebrating the birthday of Our Lady of Medjugorje and the Dedication of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, or Saint Mary Major, on a Lord’s Day (Sunday). What a great blessing from God that each of us can create our own Ave Maria Garden, in Our Lady’s House, on the birthday of Blessed Virgin Mary, the feast day of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major! We were all excited by having Fr. Andrew Fung from Salesian Mass Centre came and blessed our workshop. It is always our goal to pass on faith, hope and love with our Ave Maria Garden, but in the eyes of Fr. Fung, Ave Maria Garden already becomes an activist by bringing about a social change with flowers, to help the needy in our community and promote Catholism. A little surprise was happened on the day too! “Where comes the aroma of roses? Aren’t we just using the silk flowers?” Fr. Fung asked. We believed that Ave Maria was in our midst of us and her presence brought the aroma while we were building our Ave Maria Gardens. Praise to our Lord….. At the end of the workshop, Fr. Fung also told us the story and the tradition of the Dedication of the Basilica of St Mary Major. On 5 August 358 A.D. , during a hot summer night, snow fell on the Esquiline Hill and it was covered with a blanket of snow. Our Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to both the Patrician John and Pope Liberius (Pope from 17 May 352 to his death in 366), and asked that a church be built in her honor on a site she would miraculously indicate. And this is where the Basilica of St. Mary Major was built. A custom that commemorates the story of this miraculous snowfall is still maintained: at the conclusion of the Solemn Mass in the basilica, a shower of white rose petals is dropped from the dome of the Chapel of Our Lady, to celebrate a miracle of the Virgin Mary in central Rome. Are you interested in serving the community in need? You’re invited to be our volunteer! Whatsapp us on 5931-1863!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.657993167890503.1073741884.287228904966933&type=1&l=1294452aee