That is Our Mother Mary

By Fr. Elbert Balbastro

During the formation of the Mother Mary Rosary group in Badin Parish, Mona, our former lay missionary, and I were skeptical whether the group would push through or not. We hoped that this newly formed group will flourish and be a great source of strength to the community through their prayers and visits to the sick. All we could was pray and ask the intercession of our Mother Mary.

After a year, the group remains strong and actively participates  in all the Church’s activities. I personally attribute this to God through the help of Mother Mary. That is our Mother — when we ask and seek her intercession, we will never be left empty-handed.

Looking back, I am  amazed and can hardly believe how  time flies –  the Mother Mary group is already celebrating its first anniversary. Last October 21, 2025, I invited them to the parish house to join me in celebrating my mom’s birthday. We started by praying the Rosary, and through this gathering, we shared our experiences on how Our Lady has touched our lives and reflected on the goodness that God has shown us.

Many of them shared their experiences, and knowing the culture here in Pakistan, where women are often timid and reserved, I felt the spirit in them to share because they really felt the love of God and our Mother. One mother shared that in the past, she did not know how to pray. She only knew that she was a Christian. But through praying the Rosary, she came to understand  the importance of prayer in her life and her role in the Church. Indeed, that is again our Mother — teaching her children about God and leading them closer to Him.

Some shared their encounters with Mother Mary in the ordinary moments of their lives — such as having a happy family with good health throughout the year, or being healed from their sickness after  praying the Rosary. I also shared that even though I am far from my family and I cannot be present at my mom’s  birthday celebration, I am blessed to have them as my family. All of them treat me like their own son, and  show their love and support, especially when I need them the most. These qualities remind me  of Mother Mary — who remained at the foot of the cross for Jesus, ready to do whatever Jesus needed.

That is Mother Mary, and that is our Mother — our model of  faith and love,  and we can always connect with  her by praying the Holy Rosary.

At times, the Rosary Group encountered difficulties and conflicts among themselves, but through prayers and the guidance of our Mother, they were able to resolve their differences  and regain respect and love for each other. Conflicts are a natural part of our lives, but our mother is always there to unite us. In the Bible, she was always with the disciples, and her presence served as a unifying force that bound them together. That is our Mother —  like a mother hen protecting and uniting her chicks under her wings.

Overall, we all agreed that after a year of being together and praying the rosary at every Christian house in Badin City, we recognized that our faith had grown stronger— and much of that strength  comes from our Mother Mary herself. Indeed, that is Mother Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of Remedies, always helping us deepen our faith and reminding us that she is always ready to guide and point us in the direction of her Son.

Our work is not yet done. The Mother Mary Rosary group continues to visit  houses, pray the Holy Rosary, and spread  devotion to Our Blessed Mother among  the Christians in our parish.  We are now stronger than before because we have a partner in the mission —our Mother Mary— who always accompanies us in our journey to spread the love of God.

Note: Mother Mary Hai Who is a  heartfelt way of referring to Mary, blending English and Urdu — something very common in Pakistani Catholic communities. It is literally translated as “That is our Mother Mary.”