Many Filipinos who received their tickets for the upcoming Papal Mass treated the experience akin to winning a lottery ticket, but for 61-year old Lola Lydia Velasco, it’s the opportunity to meet the Pope with her family that she just couldn’t miss in her lifetime.
With the aid of her family, Lola Lydia took the chance to fly to the UAE just to attend the Papal Mass and get a glimpse of the Pope.
When the Papal Visit was announced, her family saw this as the best opportunity to bring lola Lydia to UAE a month in advance for her to get used to the surroundings before the actual event. “Dinala po ako ng aking pamilya sa Abu Dhabi at masaya naman, lagi kaming sumisimba at namamasyal,”
Lola Lydia’s wish is simply for her family to be blessed by the Pope with good health as they continue to work as OFWs in the UAE: “Ang panalangin ko lang po ay para sa aking pamilya para maging malusog at ligtas sila sa karamdaman, gayundin sa aking apo.”
Families pray for guidance
Apart from Lola Lydia and her family, many more Filipino families continue to pray after getting their tickets to receive the blessing from the Pope for their personal intentions.
Rowena Pasa, an Elementary Teacher working for more than 12 years in the UAE will be attending the mass together with her family as she prays for her daughter who will graduate from 10th grade this March and for her eldest who will be graduating from a Civil Engineering course in UP Diliman. “I pray that the Lord continues to guide my children as they graduate and move on towards the next level of their education and their life. I became more Faithful and when GOD shown me the direction that He wants for my life, He gave me a loving husband with humble and God-fearing children. I may not be rich but I am forever grateful with my loving family.”
Meantime, Joan Calderon who has been providing for her family for around 19 years now as a Sales & Marketing Supervisor seeks the blessing of the Pope to guide her and her family for their plans to migrate to Canada very soon. “From registration and picking up our tickets kasi we were one of the early birds. Yung mabigyan ng pagkakataon na maka-attend ng Papal Mass was nothing but only joy and faith in our hearts. Special intention po sana ng aming pamilya that He will aid our plans and dreams na matuloy ang aming migration to Canada,” said Calderon.
The Papal Visit marks 1st visit of a Pope to the MENA region. Themed ‘Make Me a Channel of Your Peace’, the visit is a positive response of the pontiff and the Vatican to the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the UAE.
In line with the UAE’s ‘Year of Tolerance’ the visit is part of the celebrations of the ‘International Interfaith Meeting on Human Fraternity’.
Pope Francis’ full itinerary in the UAE:
Sunday, February 3
1:00 PM – Departure by plane from Rome/Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10:00 PM – Arrival at the Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Official Welcome
Monday, February 4
12:00 PM – Welcome Ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi
12:20 PM – Official Visit to the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince in the Presidential Palace
5:00 PM – Private meeting with the members of the Muslim Council of Elders at Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6:10 PM – Inter-religious Meeting at the Founder’s Memorial
Discourse of the Holy Father
Tuesday, February 5
9:15 AM – Visit in private to the Cathedral
10:30 AM – Santa Messa in Zayed Sports City — Homily of the Holy Father
12:40 PM – Farewell Ceremony at the Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1:00 PM – Departure by plane to Rome
5:00 PM – Arrival at the Rome/Ciampino International Airport
