Thanksgiving – 28 July 2018

1. Dearest Mother Mary,

Thank you for always praying with me and for me. Words cannot express how much your presence and the comfort you bring to me. I moved to Singapore with my 2 young daughters 13 years ago. My husband and I liked the safe and good learning environment here. It was a difficult decision to make as that meant “breaking up” the family since my husband could not be here with us due to his work. The first few months were very challenging as we struggled to adapt to the new environment.

I have been attending Novena Devotions although not regularly since my teenage years. Moving to Singapore allowed me to once again come to you in my time of sadness and joy. For this, I am very grateful. I thank my mother, too, for teaching me how to pray. Today, my daughters are growing up beautifully and I thank God every day for them. With them being in university, it is time for me to move back and be with my husband. He and I look forward to this reunion and we hope to spend more time serving the Lord and the Church.

Thank you, dear Mother, for interceeding in all my prayers. Your devotion to Jesus, will always guide me to deepen my relationship with Him. It is your love for Jesus, that inspires me to love Him more each day and to try my best to do things that will put a smile on His face.

Your Grateful Daughter.

 

2. Dearest Mother of Perpetual Help,

With great joy in my heart, I thank you for loving me and bringing me back to your Son, Jesus. I have been a lapsed Catholic for more than 35 years. I have lived a life of sin, with no belief in the existence of God, no guilt, self-centred, morally wrong, with deep jealousy, totally lost and hopeless.

On 13^th May last year, on the Centennial Celebration of Our Lady of Fatima, the visit to the Church totally changed me. Thanks to the unfailing constant intercession of you, dearest Mother, who did not give up on me all these years. I came back to the Church. With God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness, I am now totally at peace. My spiritual life for the whole year has been fulfilling. With daily prayers, rosary, divine mercy and scripture readings, I am gradually brought closer to God and to you, Mother.

With trust and a little effort of our own, all lapsed Catholics like myself can one day find the peace and joy that is so freely given to us by our most faithful and loving God.

Your Most Grateful Daughter.

 

3. Dearest Mother,

This letter is long overdue. I have always resisted going to you to ask for your intercession. For the last few months, however I have started to ask you to intercede on my behalf for my children to come back to our Lord as they have drifted so far away from Him. They feel God is no longer relevant and they are too busy with their lives. I have never stopped praying for them.

Recently, my son just got accepted into his dream career as a pilot. I want to thank you, Mother Mary, for interceding on my behalf and I am sure my son will come back to our Lord soon. My relationship with my daughter has also improved. It is with your intercession that my children are blessed with all these graces. They might not know that these are blessings from God. I believe that our Lord in His time will bring both my children back. Mother Mary, please continue to intercede for me.

Your Loving Daughter.

 

4. Dear Mother Mary,

One week ago, two courageous people took the stand to share their faith stories in public. It took a lot to bare their souls on their journey of struggles and eventually return to the Church. Thank you for your intercession in making this a special welcome to lapsed Catholics and an opportunity to share about God’s gift of mercy and love.

Your Grateful Child.

 

5. Dearest Mother,

Thank you for your love and your prayers. I have lived in Singapore for more than twenty years since I was a Secondary 3 student. My parents continue to live in Indonesia and they are growing older and I am worried about their health. However, we entrust ourselves into the love and care of God.

Your Loving Daughter.

 

6. Dearest Mother of Perpetual Help,

I have been unemployed for a couple of months. Recently, I went for some interviews and I just got accepted and will be starting my new job in 2 weeks’ time. It may not be the best offer but I am thankful enough to be given a chance to make a difference at a new start up. My deepest gratitude to you for answering my prayers and blessing me at a time like this. Please continue to watch over my family.

Your Non-Catholic Daughter.

 

7. Dearest Mother Mary,

My aged mother was rushed to the hospital on 8 July in an ambulance. Upon arrival, the doctors said her kidneys were failing and asked us that should her heart fail, would we want to go all the way to resuscitate her. We were very worried and prayed very hard imploring your intercession. She was warded in a high dependency ward for a week before she was transferred to a normal ward last week. Though she still has some medical issues to be resolved, she is nonetheless slowly recovering. My family and I are really grateful to you and your Son for listening to our prayers. Please continue to guide my family as we always place our petitions before you.

Your Catholic Daughter.

 

8. Dearest Mother,

Thank you for blessing my husband and me with our 2^nd bundle of joy. This would not have been possible without your constant intercession. It wasn’t an easy pregnancy but we are thankful that you have given us the strength and courage to brave through this journey. My youngest daughter is now 10 weeks old and the family is enjoying her company tremendously. Please continue to watch over them and may they both grow up happy and healthy. Grant them the wisdom, perseverance, determination and patience to pursue their interests and studies.

Your Catholic Daughter.

 

9. Dearest Mother Mary,

Thank you so much for protecting the rescuers and the 12 boys and their coach. Bless the soul of the Thai diver who lost his life, it was through his sacrifice that the rescuers were very mindful of the oxygen levels thereafter. You have answered the prayers of many and this miracle is only possible through your mercy.

Your Devoted Child.

 

10. Dearest Mother Mary,

Thank you for holding me in your arms and praying for me. I am here on a vacation for 1 month with my family and I feel blessed to attend Novena here on Saturday. I have always felt a special blessing whenever I am here.

Your Faithful Son.

 

11. Dearest Mother Mary,

Thank you for your intercession and prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ to grant me a job in New Zealand. I have been praying for a job since last August and it was such a joy to find a good job. Even though it may not be the ideal place to stay alone, I am sure the Holy Spirit will be there with me to protect and guide me in whatever I do and wherever I go.

I am forever grateful to you, Mother Mary, and you will continue to guide me as I move along. It is sad that I will not be able to join in this year’s procession as I will be away in mid-August. However, I will ensure that I will be here to attend the Novena Devotions without fail before I leave.

Meanwhile, I pray that our Lord will continue to keep my entire family safe and in good health. I pray that in my absence from Singapore, my husband will be able to take good care of our 2 boys who are doing their National Service and with the help of the Holy Spirit, all things will be good for them.

Your Loving Daughter.