The Monday Rosary Group

1967 – 2026
From the files of Bros. Elias Lopez, Conrado Gempesaw, Roger Antalan (former priest), Andy Gutierrez and Sis. Choleng Albay.

By: Bro. Francisco “Bobby” R. Leonor, Bro. Matt M. Sogueco | Sis. Pop Barcela (proofreader)

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Every Monday evening after the 5:30 P.M. Mass, a group of Cursillistas would meet at St. Jude Thaddeus Parish and would pray the Rosary. This is for their own personal intentions, for their families, for the sick and for those in need, and most of all, for peace in the whole World, in our Country, in our City and our Community. For other reasons. We owe this to our Lady and so we pray the Rosary.

The Holy Rosary is prayed the Cursillo way, which is arms in cross. This group has been doing this for the past 59 years. It is known as the Monday Rosary group, whose membership is purely voluntary. There is no official roster, no fees, and no officers. Whenever a Cursillista graduated from the Cursillo weekend he/she is welcome to join the Monday Rosary group. Every Monday Evening right after the 5:30P.M. Mass, you will see the following Brothers and Sisters praying the Rosary: Jun Tolibas, Virgie Santos, Orly Caliso, Neneng Gestosani, Marilyn Soria, Max Soria, Edith Sarabia, Bing Baltazar, Emily Benaning, Ludy Dela Cruz, Thelma Rojas, Vergilio Temefiel, Ryan jay Paciencia, Bobby Leonor and the late Tine Subang and Nanette Ponferrada.

The Cursillos In Christianity started on September 1964 in the Archdiocese of Davao, we then had the Cursillo every other month. After the fourth Cursillo, it became every month as more men and women wanted to join. This was at the Redemptorist Monastery in Bajada and the movement became very popular.

After Cursillo#36, the venue was transferred to Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Sometime in January 20-23, 1966, Cursillo #17 was held and one of the participants was Elias B. Lopez who was then the Vice Mayor of Davao City. Elias loves music and invites friends, Ray Masbad a Tenor, Larry Martinez former champion of Tawag ng Tanghalan, Nanding Bermejo, Julio Gutierrez, et al. They would practice singing the Cursillo songs for mañanita to serenade new Cursillistas every Month.

On January 8, 1967, while singing and practicing, Ray Masbad received a message that he had to go to Manila as his father was very ill. The group decided to offer prayer for the recovery of Ray Masbad’s father. The place they chose to pray was St. Jude Thaddeus Parish, a quiet place near a residence of most members.

The next day January 9, 1967, a Monday, the group went to St. Jude Thaddeus Parish at about 6:00P.M. and recited the Rosary for the speedy recovery of Ray Masbad’s father, after the prayer, they went across the street and had snacks at the store of Bro. Tim Paez. Someone suggested this to be done every Monday to serve as their ultreya, and unanimously they all agreed. Bro Elias suggested the group be called “The Monday Rosary Group”

Those present then were the following: Elias E. Lopez, Nanding Bermejo, Conrado Gempesaw, J. Ferriols, Mike Palma Gil, J. Ledesma, V. Rusiana, Larry Martinez, M. Montaña, Ricardo Banzon (former priest) Roger Antalan (former priest).

After a month, R. Solitaria, A. Gutierrez and Bobby Leonor joined the group after Cursillo #33. Thereafter, more members joined, like Romy Ferrer, Poye Tulio, J. Paragus, Nestor Plana, Ernie Plana, and Rolly Santos and many more.

HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

When Bro. Nanding Bermejo came back from Rome, he brought a Rosary for everyone including a big bead one which is for the leader of praying the Rosary. Until now, it is being used. This big bead Rosary was blessed by St. John Paul II himself. It was suggested that we use this every Monday.

The big Rosary bead was first kept by Bro. Ray Masbad as he always led the recitation of the Rosary, when Bro. Ray Masbad migrated to the U. S. it was Bro Julio Gutierrez, who led the recitation of the Rosary for a very long time.

When Bro. Julio passed away, Bro. Romy Ferrer became the caretaker of the Rosary for quite some time. After Bro. Romy Ferrer joined the other Monday Rosary Group members in heaven, it was passed on to Bro, Jun Tolibas who takes care of this big bead Rosary.

On several occasions, the group would sponsor candidates for the Cursillo weekend, the group also donated a surplus of food and Lechon, at the end of the Cursillo weekend, the remaining foods were donated to the nearby orphanage.

The concreting of the exodus road at Wireless District of Bankerohan, Davao city.

Organized the Gift Bearers Club of San Pedro Cathedral and St. Jude Church.

Initiated the Good Friday “Way of The Cross” – the 1st was from San Pedro Cathedral to St. Joseph the worker Parish in Sasa., 2nd San Pedro Cathedral to Matina Crossing. 3rd Matina Crossing to San Pedro Cathedral. 4th San Pedro Cathedral to Matina Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague, the 14 stations were prepared by Bro. Architect Roman Solitaria. The group would install the stations at 2:00 in the morning. Thousands would usually join and this continued for quite some time.

During the construction of St. Jude Thaddeus Parish, there were people in the Parish who volunteered to work on Sundays as they had no money to donate, the Monday Rosary Group organized them to cement the flooring of the Church. The cement, sand, gravel and steel bars were provided by the Monday Rosary Group. Labored by the volunteers, food was provided by the market people from our Parish, lunch and dinner including merienda. Some provided music while they were cementing the flooring, this was done every Sunday until the whole area was cemented.

The Monday Rosary Group also sponsored fund raising activities like raffles, shows, bingos for St. Jude Thaddeus Parish and San Pedro Cathedral.

During Christmas season, the group would go caroling and raised funds, all the proceeds of this activity were given to the poor families of Exodus District and the Orphanage beside the Cursillo House.

For those who still come and recite the Rosary on Mondays, no one really knew these would go on and on. Many request, petition, intentions were answered, this is because of our devotion to our Lady, our Mother, Mama Mary.

All these were done with the spiritual guidance of our Spiritual Directors.

At the height of the Cursillo In Christianity Movement, the Monday Rosary Group also grew in numbers, about 50 and more. When they prayed together arms in cross it was a sight to see, today, do you think we can gather 50 or more, Bro Ray Masbad has his own Monday Rosary Group in Florida U.S.A. numbering 200 more or less.

Then, in the late 80’s, the group started to lessen, due to many reasons. Some transferred residences, other work related and some passed away, but the Monday Rosary Group kept on without fail every Monday, then our women Cursillistas came in to help. This was Sis. Choleng Albay, Sis. Sylvia Ferrer, Sis. Remy Domingo, Sis. Glo Bundalian, Sis Ludy Cembrano, Sis. Labao, Sis. Ramoso, Sis. Virgie Racho, Sis. Nucum and others.

This devotion to pray the Rosary caught up with other Parishes, like the Sacred Heart Parish in Obrero on Tuesday, Sta. Ana Shrine Parish on Wednesday, San Antonio De Padua Parish in Agdao on Thursday.

Then Pandemic came, for a while Monday Rosary Group Tried to maintain and to continue said devotion, but to no avail, but our late Sister Cristine Subang, had an idea to bring the praying of the Monday Rosary to every Cursillista family via online, the Cursillos In Christianity with the approval of our Spiritual Director Rev, Fr. Jemasol R. Ortiz and the Cursillo Secretariat Members decided to make an FB page the “Davao Cursillo Movement”, where in Cursillistas from all over the Archdiocese of Davao can join via online via facebook live. Now we not only pray the Monday Rosary on Mondays, but we pray the Rosary Daily, with the different Cursillistas together with their familiers. the devotion to pray the Rosary grew not only to Cursillistas but it includes the family also.

It has been 59 years now and this writing shall not end here. The Monday Rosary Group will continue this devotion, this legacy and someone else will continue to write about this group.

Ultreya!

De Colores!