25th Anniversary of the Loved Flock’s 2000 Hail Mary Devotion Special Intention: In Loving Memory of Ate Ann and Ate Tes

November 8, 2025

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Bp George, brother priests and members of the Loved Flock community family, and friends,

Today, as we gather to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the 2000 Hail Mary devotion, we are also gathered in grief and faith – grief, because we mourn the tragic passing of our beloved sisters, Ate Ann and Ate Tes, who perished in the fire; faith, because we believe that even amid sorrow, “the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

This moment – of jubilee and mourning – invites us to see our lives, our faith, and our prayer through the eyes of eternity.

1. A Life of Service: Like Priscilla and Aquila

In the first reading, St. Paul mentions names that might easily be overlooked-Priscilla and Aquila, Epenetus, Mary, and others who “worked hard in the Lord.” They are not famous apostles or miracle-workers, yet St. Paul honors them with gratitude and love.

This reading beautifully mirrors the story of our Loved Flock community and especially the life of Ate Ann and Ate Tes. Like those early Christians, they were not seeking recognition or power. They served quietly, faithfully, lovingly-through prayer meetings, acts of generosity, and that powerful 2000 Hail Mary devotion that has nourished countless souls for 25 years.

Their faith, like Priscilla’s, was rooted in service and hospitality; their love, like Aquila’s, was hidden but steadfast. They helped others to know Jesus, not through words alone, but through the constancy of prayer and compassion.

So today, we can say with St. Paul: “Greet them who have worked so hard in the Lord.” Indeed, Ate Ann and Ate Tes have completed their labor of love. Their work continues to bear fruit in each of us.

2. The 2000 Hail Mary: A Chain of Hope and Grace

When the Loved Flock began the 2000 Hail Mary devotion 25 years ago, it was more than just a spiritual exercise – it was an act of faith, a chain of hope, a marathon of love. Every “Hail Mary” was a heartbeat of trust, every “Holy Mary” a cry for intercession, every “Amen” a surrender to God’s will.

This devotion has sustained many families, healed divisions, and deepened the Marian spirit within this community

Mary’s prayer is not magic, it is a mirror of her soul that says, “Let it be done unto me according to Your word.” And so, when the Loved Flock prays 2000 Hail Marys, it is not mere repetition – it is a journey of surrender, an ascent toward union with God through the heart of His Mother.

Even in this time of grief, we can imagine the Blessed Mother whispering to each of us, “Do not be afraid, my child. I am with you. Your sisters are safe in my Son’s arms.”

3. The Tragic Fire: From Ashes se Glory

The tragedy that took the lives of Ate Ann and Ate Tes is one of those moments when faith is tested. We ask, “Lord, why?” And yet, faith reminds us that God does not always remove the cross – He transforms it.

From the ashes of that fire rises the flame of eternal life. What we saw as destruction, God has turned into a homecoming. As the fire consumed, heaven opened.

Their passing on the eve of this 25th anniversary is not a coincidence but a mystery. Could it be that Mary herself came to accompany two of her most faithful daughters back home, at the close of a quarter-century of prayer in her honor?

Perhaps their final “Hail Mary” was not said with their lips but completed with their lives – offered as a perfect act of love.

4. “You Cannot Serve Both God and Mammon” (Luke 16:9-15)

In today’s Gospel, Jesus challenges us to choose our master – to serve either God or the world. For 25 years, the Loved Flock has chosen God, has chosen prayer over possessions, has chosen service over status.

Ate Ann and Ate Tes lived that choice. Their treasure was not wealth but faith. Their investment was not in gold but in grace. Their reward, we believe, is now the eternal embrace of the Lord they served.

The Gospel reminds us that what endures in not what we possess, but what we give. Not what we accumulate, but what we surrender to God.

5. Our Call To Continue Their Legacy

As we mark this 25th anniversary, we are invited to continue the legacy of these two faithful women and of the entire Loved Flock family.

Let us keep the rosary burning like a lamp before the Lord. Let the 2000 Hail Mary devotion not only be recited but lived – each Hail Mary become a gesture of mercy, each Holy Mary a moment of faith in our daily life.

And in moments of darkness, may we hear the gentle voice of Mary saying, “My children, continue what they began, Pray, love, and hope”

Conclusion: From Mourning to Mission

Dear friends, this silver jubilee of the 2000 Hail Mary devotion is not merely a look back; it is a call forward. It is Mary’s invitation to persevere in prayer, to trust God’s timing, and to love as our sisters loved.

Let us console one another with these words:

“The Lord is faithful in all His words and loving in all His deeds. He raises up all who are bowed down.” (Psalm 145-13-14)

So today, weep, we proclaim:

Hail Mary, full of grace – thank you for receiving our sister into your embrace.
Hail Mary, full of grace – teach us to live with faith, hope, and love.
Hail Mary, full of grace – lead us all one day to the joy of heaven. May God bless us all! Amen. (Fr. William Cajes)