Marian Devotion is Alive and Well in Kailua!

While May is traditionally celebrated as the Month of Mary, October also holds a place in the hearts of the faithful as the Month of the Holy Rosary.  As such, October is one of the most spiritually vibrant months in the Catholic calendar.  This special time invites us to draw closer to God through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, via her most cherished prayer.  Whether through private meditation in our homes or communal prayer in our parishes, October is an opportune time to commune with Our Lady; to deepen our personal relationship with her and her Divine Son.

In my Kailua parish, October holds a special rhythm of grace, which I'm happy to blog about for the spiritual edification of readers.  Here's a look at how Mother Mary and the Rosary are being celebrated this month in my parish, and how you, too, can bring these meaningful devotional practices into your own respective parishes.

🌹 St. Anthony of Padua Parish’s Pilgrim Madonna Program

One of the most exciting ways my parish encourages Marian Devotion is through our Pilgrim Madonna Program.  To foster domestic church life and a spirit of community prayer, my Pastor commissioned four distinct images of Our Lady (including two icons personally written by this author) that "travel" from household to household throughout October (and during May, too).  This is the third year we've done it and it's become an event our families look forward too.

             

Three of our four Pilgrim Madonnas - representing

Our Lady of Medjugorje, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady

of Lourdes - displayed in the homes of parishioners.

How does it work? Families sign up to host a Pilgrim Madonna in their home for 3-day intervals.  While the image is with a household, the family commits to pray the Rosary together and encouraged to invite their relatives and neighbors to participate.  Since the program's inception, signal graces have been reported, thanks be to God!

🌹 Parish Rosary Marathon

This past October 7th, 2026 - the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary and the anniversary of the historic Battle of Lepanto - our parish took devotion to the next level by hosting a special "Rosary Marathon" during which parishioners prayed all four sets of the Rosary Mysteries in one sitting.  It's a minor sacrifice, but more than worth it, considering the blessings Our Lady promises to her Rosary devotees.

    

From start to finish, as the rhythmic cadence of the "Hail Mary" filled the air, the vibe in the church was nothing short of deep, deep serenity and the tangible presence of the Divine.  The night was topped off by refreshments served by our resident FIAT Prayer Group and with fellowship time amongst participants; several people expressed positive feedback about the Rosary Marathon, making for a fitting tribute to Our Lady on her feast day ... and proving that when people come together in sincere prayer, souls are changed for the better.

🌹 America Needs Fatima Rosary Rally

And today, October 10th, 2026 ... the Vargas Family again held their America Needs Fatima Public Rosary Rally (an annual event I and several others enthusiastically look forward to!).  While praying in the church is vital, taking our faith out into the community and public places is a powerful witness to the world.

Equipped with a giant banner, statues, and rosary beads, we offered prayerful reparation for sins and implored God’s mercy for our country through Mary’s intercession ... and we were even blessed by an amazing sign before our Rosary commenced - a visual manifestion of the Blessed Virgin's figure in the sky above us!

     

Our Lady came to encourage us - Ave Maria!

Group meetings such as these remind us that our faith is not meant to be hidden behind closed doors; rather, it's meant to shine brightly for all to see.  

This author (standing) with our gracious hosts:

Michael, Auntie Patti & Auntie Edwina.

And finally, the food served afterward by our wonderful hosts was fantastic!  May God continue blessing the Vargas and Saunders Ohana!

🌹 October isn't finished yet!

As we journey through the rest of the month, let us not let the special charisms of this Month of the Rosary pass us by (October 13th is the Anniversary of the Great Miracle of the Sun in Fatima!).  Pick up your Rosary and pray it through the end of October ... and ask Heaven for graces upon yourselves, your loved ones, and for the world.  Remember that our Blessed Mother never fails to hear the prayers of her children.

Our Lady of the Rosary,

pray for us!

Monthly Message from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: September 2026

Click/Tap on the image above or here to hear

this month's message from Medjugorje

Our Lady, the "God-Bearer"

It's another First Saturday, a day revered by countless Marian Devotees throughout the world.  Me included.  You'll usually find this blogger at St. John Vianney Church in Kailua on the mornings of First Saturdays because of what happens there each month: the Pastor, Fr. Vincent, celebrates morning Mass; he offers the Sacrament of Healing; an hour of Eucharistic Adoration immediately follows the Mass; and there's Confession during and after Adoration.  It's a Marian devotee's paradise and I get to enjoy it every First Saturday, including today.

Fr. Vincent leading us in the Divine Praises.

In this blog, I'd like to share another curious pic concerning the outdoor Marian Shrine at St. John Vianney Parish.  I snapped it before the Mass, as I waited for the church doors to open.  I was looking at the shrine and praying to Our Lady ... then felt prompted to take a few photos from where I stood near the entrance.  Later, I noticed that in one of the pics - if you zoom in at the statue - the light reflected on it seems to form the luminous profile of a pregnant woman (note the large "baby bump").  It definitely doesn't look anything like the statue and my immediate thought is that it reminds me of the Holy Virgin's sublime role as the THEOTOKOS or the "God-Bearer" ... and of all days and of all places, the image appeared on a First Saturday when Mother Mary is especially honored ... and in a shrine dedicated to her.  I'm not saying the figure is a miracle, but I don't believe in coincidences either.

       

The garden shrine (left) and is that the luminous figure of

the Blessed Virgin as a pregnant woman (circled)?

Regardless what the figure is, I feel incredibly blessed and grateful for this morning's events.  It's a comfort to think that Our Lady is always nearby but the Holy Mass and the other Sacraments I partook of, and time spent in Adoration, are actually the gifts from God that are of much greater value.  All Thanks and Praises be to Him!

Beneath your mercy, we take refuge,

O Virgin Theotokos.  Disdain not our

supplications in our distress, but

deliver us from perils, O only pure

and blessed one.

- from the Sub Tuum Praesidium

(ancient prayer to Mary, 250 AD)

Monthly Message from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: August 2026

Click/Tap on the image above or here to hear

this month's message from Medjugorje.

Monthly Message from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: July 2026

Click/Tap on the image above or here to hear

this month's message from Medjugorje.

FOR DISCERNMENT: PRAY FOR AMERICA

Happy 4th of July!

I feel a special need to share another extraordinary photo.  After today's First Saturday Rosary for Peace and evening Vigil Mass at my parish, I witnessed a figure in the sky - it looked like our Blessed Mother holding the infant Jesus.  I asked her what was going on, then had an interior impression that it was a silent message for our country since it's the 4th of July ... and the 250th Anniversary of the USA.  I snapped a few pics.

     

One of the clearer photos ... the figure enlarged on the right

with the Holy Virgin outlined by this author.

Now looking at the photos, it seems to me that the Baby Jesus is transformed into a cross in Our Lady's hands (some still perceive a baby).  A First Saturday ... on a historic and significant date for America ... the Rosary for Peace ... this appearance ... and a cross in her hands.  It doesn't seem to be random.  Rather, as a whole, it's all a coherent and urgent message - a silent request to pray and sacrifice for our country - and I'm not surprised.  Our culture has more and more, with the passing of each decade, sunken into deeper lows.  Our beloved country indeed needs prayer - pray, pray, pray for America!

A Prayer for America's 250th Anniversary

(By Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke)

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, King of Heaven and Earth,

I place today my nation, the United States of America,

into Your Heart pierced for love of us.  On the 250th

Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence,

I acknowledge that true liberty is Your gift, and that

our lasting homeland is the eternal Kingdom of God.

Under the mantle of Our Lady of Guadalupe,

Patroness of the Americas, and through the

intercession of her Immaculate Heart, bless my

homeland anew, purify her from sin, and guide her

leaders in truth, justice, and peace, so that she may

safeguard all human life, respect the integrity of

marriage and the family, and honor the practice of

religion.  Reign in my home and in my nation.

Draw every heart into communion with You, that

Your truth, love, justice, mercy, and peace may

triumph in America and throughout the world.

Amen.

God bless the United States of America!

A week with our Mother Mary...

What a busy and intense week it was for me, but in a good way ... and it seemed to this author that the "veil" separating Heaven and Earth was especially thin this week; Our Lady was a factor and her influence seemed particularly palpable.  Did anyone else feel this way?

... and I think the recent events in Medjugorje was the catalyst, at least from my personal perspective.  This ongoing Church-approved Marian Apparition just celebrated its 45th Anniversary on June 24th, 2026, and the Queen of Peace again requested a special nine days of preparation - a "Novena of Rosaries" - calling for people to participate in late night vigils up on Apparition Hill, as if to encourage voluntary mortification and sacrifice amongst the pilgrims.

Marija in ecstasy during an apparition

For those familiar with this ministry, you likely already know that I personally believe in these apparitions and promote the monthly messages in this blog.  I cannot express enough how Medjugorje has deeply influenced my spiritual life for the better, and I attribute many special favors I've received to the maternal intercession of the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje.  So promoting devotion to her is the least I can do to repay her.

Two of the six Seers - Ivan and Marija -

present during an apparition

I followed that Medjugorje Rosary Novena in spiritual union, via YouTube, and performed whatever special instruction was given by the Blessed Virgin during each apparition (e.g. praying for the Poor Souls).  Then, on June 25th, a friend invited me to bring relics to her home for a prayer meeting she hosted for her parish's Fatima Pilgrim Madonna statue.  It just so happened to be the day that Our Lady gave her June monthly message for the world so I took the opportunity to speak not just about the Fatima message, but also about the events in Medjugorje.  There were a couple of people present who had actually never heard of Medjugorje and they were quite impressed by what they learned.  I also relayed how the Virgin once said to the Medjugorje seers: "What I started in Fatima, I will finish in Medjugorje.  My heart will triumph."   Our host then read the June 25th Message out loud.

   

Relic Pilgrim Visitation at the Manoa Residence in Aiea: Relics of the

Fatima Seers were displayed with the Medjugorje Peace Icon

Also making a positive impact were my ministry's relics of the three Fatima Seers (including a splinter of wood from the tree of apparitions) and my Medjugorje "Peace Icon" that has three stones taken from the shrine on Apparition Hill; from the Blue Cross shrine; and from the large cross atop Cross Mountain.  All of it, together, contributed to a certain heavenly presence that permeated the room we were in.

Finally, this morning (6/27), as I drove to St. John Vianney Church in Kailua to attend Mass, I was surprised to see a clear figure of the Blessed Virgin high in the sky ahead of me.  It looked like a cardboard cut-out of her pasted in the sky - the clearest photo is shown below.

     

Our Lady's figure in the sky above Enchanted Lakes,

Kailua (zoomed-in in the left photo)

I believe what I saw was intended as a sign for the parish priest (a friend of mine) who had asked me to pray with him for a certain, undisclosed petition (we were invoking Our Lady's intercession) ... but wait - if that weren't enough, after the Mass and joining in the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet with a few St. John Vianney parishioners, I again witnessed Our Lady's silhouette floating in the air - see below.

     

Our Lady's figure spotted in the sky above Kailua for a

second time in the same day (zoomed-in in the left photo)

So one can understand what I meant by the title of this blog.  Due to all that transpired in the past week, I really felt that I spent it with Mother Mary, the Queen of Peace ... and one might be surprised to learn that I've never been to Medjugorje despite my devotion; neither do I feel the need to go there because here's what I've learned throughout the years: one doesn't need to go to Medjugorje to experience its extraordinary grace and inspiration.  Just live the messages wherever you are - Convert, Pray "from the heart", live a Sacramental Life, and Fast regularly - and the blessed fruits of Medjugorje will come to you!  Indeed, putting her words into action is the best way we can show love and honor to our Heavenly Mother Mary.

Our Lady, Queen of Peace,

pray for us!

Messages from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: June 2026 (45th Anniversary of the Medjugorje Apparitions)

Medjugorje celebrates 45 years of fruitful grace!

(Click/Tap on the above image to hear the two

messages given by Our Lady in June 2026)

Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us!

Champion is on my Bucket List!

There are at least a dozen locations in the United States that claim heavenly visitations from the Blessed Virgin Mary.  However, only one series of apparitions has the distinction of being formally declared "worthy of belief" by the Catholic Church.  For those who haven't yet heard of them, they occurred at Champion, Wisconsin.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion

Only three apparitions were claimed in Champion by the seer - Adele Brise - in October 1959.  Our Lady's message was relatively brief yet her few words spoke volumes and have stood the test of time; resonating in the hearts of many, including this author's.  In fact, the Blessed Virgin's requests at Champion (along with Adele's faith example) touched me so deeply, I was inspired to create a short video to help spread the message - click/tap the image below to view it.

Our Lady of Champion, as described by the visionary,

Adele Brise.  Click/Tap on the image to learn more

about the seer and the apparitions.

The quaint town of Champion has since become a popular destination for people seeking Peace, deeper Faith, and Healing ... and many, many graces have been reported by visitors over the decades.  Officially approved by the local Bishop on December 8, 2010, today the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion welcomes over 200,000 pilgrims annually!  It's definitely on my Bucket List.

Monthly Message from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: May 2026

Click/Tap on the image above to hear this month's

message from the Queen of Peace

FOR DISCERNMENT: Three Important Words To Live By

This awesome sight was witnessed today - May 8th, 2026 - while walking from my workplace to the Kamiano Center to attend the Noon Mass ...

May is the month of Mary - Celebrate Her!

Monthly Message from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: April 2026

Click/Tap on the image above to hear this month's

message from the Queen of Peace

Monthly Message from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: March 2026

Click/Tap on the image above to hear this month's

message from the Queen of Peace

Monthly Message from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: February 2026

Click/Tap on the image above to hear this month's

message from the Queen of Peace

Monthly Message from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: January 2025

Click/Tap on the image above to hear this month's

message from the Queen of Peace

A Blessing for Families

Happy Feast Day of the Holy Family!

Today, our Church celebrates the loving union of Jesus, Mama Mary, and St. Joseph as a very human, yet exemplary faith-filled family.  This author attended the 9AM Mass this morning at my parish church of St. Anthony of Padua in Kailua then, afterwards, was surprised by the awesome sight of the luminous figure of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Patroness of this ministry!) in the sky above the church!  The image was so clear, it resembled a white cut-out of the Guadalupe Virgin pasted against the blue firmament; actually remaining long enough for me to whisper prayers ... to snap a few cellphone pics ... and to gaze a bit more at her with heartfelt gratitude before she finally faded.  It couldn't have been just a random cloud.

        

The two clearest pics I managed to take.  Tap on

either photo to enlarge and view details ... note the

Virgin of Guadalupe in the center (circled).

So what did it all mean?  There were no words heard, but in my heart I strongly felt Our Lady manifested her presence for the following reasons:

• to bless all families who reverently observed today's feast

• to affirm the sanctity of the traditional family unit

• as the Virgin of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Unborn (she appeared as a youthful pregnant woman in Mexico), to affirm the sanctity of life and the need to prayerfully defend the Unborn from abortion, which has contributed to the degeneration of modern families

Lastly, I'd like to suggest that if one has any urgent request concerning a relative(s), today's feast is an opportune time to invoke the intercession of the Holy Family.  I believe this appearance of the Blessed Virgin is a sign that exceptional graces are possible today - the Feast of the Holy Family - for those who ask with confidence.  May the good Lord bless all of our families with sanctity and protection from evil.

Monthly Messages from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: December 2025

Monthly Message to Maria Pavlovic-Lunetti:

  Dear children!  Also today – when God permits me to carry to you in my arms little Jesus, the King of Peace, that He may fill you with the ardor of love and peace, so that every heart may be similar to His Heart in this time of grace – be resolute and courageous defenders of the love of your God, that in this time of grace He may give you His peace.  Thank you for having responded to my call.

Message to Jakov Colo during his annual apparition:

  Today, on this day of grace, in a special way I am calling you to complete surrender to Jesus.  Little children, surrender to Him your wounds and pains, your past and future, and permit Jesus to begin to rule in your lives.  My children, only with complete surrender, Jesus gives Himself in your life, and this is the greatest gift that you can receive.  Pray that you may comprehend how precious you are for Jesus and how much He loves you.  Thank you for having responded to my call.

December 2025: That Hawaiian Supermoon

"Who is she that comes forth as the morning

rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun,

terrible as an army set in battle array?"

- Song of Solomon 6:10

Lately, wonderful things have been been witnessed in the sky above our islands ... and it involves the moon.  First off, during the past three nights, we've been awed by the sight of a "supermoon".  It's an infrequent natural occurrence during which the moon is at its closest orbit to the earth and appears larger and brighter than an ordinary full moon; it also sometimes takes on an orange to reddish hue, which adds greatly to its already spectacular appearance. 🌕

This author has seen many supermoons in my lifetime, but this time around, it was literally a blessing from above - allow me to elaborate: this past Wednesday, 12-3-2025, as I drove into Kailua to attend the FIAT: Faith In Action Today prayer meeting, I caught sight of the moon and was surprised to see within it a clear image of the face of our Blessed Mother.  I've witnessed a similar manifestation before back in January 2012 but never saw anything like it again until this Wednesday.  Our Lady's features were beautiful and she was smiling, as her face faded and reappeared intermittently.  I was elated, to say the least!

An artistic depiction of what this author

witnessed in the moon

When I got to the meeting, I immediately told other members of the FIAT Group about the moon and several of them went outside to see for themselves.  To my relief, three others also saw the Holy Virgin's face, which affirmed for me that it wasn't just my imagination.  So we whipped out our cellphones to snap pics but none of us succeeded in capturing the mysterious face.  Instead, all we got were images of a blank glowing white sphere against the night sky.

I was somewhat disappointed that we didn't get clear pics to keep as souvenirs of the blessed event ... but my mood changed when I later got home.  Earlier, during my drive into Kailua, I had filmed the moon briefly out of sheer excitement and, while reviewing the footage, I was shocked to discover that I had unexpectedly captured something remarkable, after all ... but instead of just a face, I filmed a full-figure apparition!  Here's the video ...

ABOVE:  Note the silhouette in the light (circled)

BELOW:  A screen-shot from the video clip (note

the resemblance to the statue next to it)

   

I can't help but see Our Lady of Grace with her arms customarily extended downward in the above clip, to which several friends have agreed.  Why she manifested in the video - or even in the moon - I don't know; she didn't say a word, but my best guess is that she simply wanted to encourage our FIAT Group to prayerfully persevere; to remind our members that she's around, acknowledging our filial devotion to her and to lovingly dispense graces (we often affectionately refer to her as our "MOM").

I've looked at the moon, over and over again last night and tonight, but no face or figure was seen in it.  I'm extremely grateful for what was witnessed and, regardless, the sight of a supermoon is an awesome gift of the natural realm; a reminder of just how great our GOD is who made it all, along with its breathtaking beauty.  Thanks and praises be to HIM!

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

- Psalm 19:1

She's still there ...

It's been over 150 years since Our Lady graced Lourdes, France, with her now-famous 18 apparitions ... yet her presence apparently continues to remain at that hallowed site.  I strongly sensed her there when I visited the Lourdes Sanctuary in October 2024 ... and even came home with a special souvenir photo!

Oh, how I miss that place!  But thankfully, there's the Lourdes Sanctuary live webcam, which never fails to take me back to the Holy Grotto - search for it in YouTube because you never know what you'll witness when you tune in!

Just this morning, as this blogger was praying my daily Rosary, I felt an urge to bring up the webcam on my TV screen so I jumped on and joined pilgrims praying the Rosary in Italian.  Not long after, I noticed a strange light formation in the center of the grotto - it was so striking, I had to take pics of my screen.  Each viewer can decide what he/she sees ... but for me it affirms what I already know - our Blessed Mother's maternal presence is still at Lourdes.

            

Closer views of the unusual light formation in the Grotto of Massabielle (compare each with the statue at center)

Lourdes is that HOLY - the Grotto in particular is a special place where Heaven and earth unite!  If one ever has the opportunity to visit Lourdes, go!  Until then, view the webcam and pray with the pilgrims from all over the world.  Grace somehow seems to transmit even through that live digital portal ... and you never know what you'll see!  The pics above are just a recent set out of several other remarkable things I've witnessed on the webcam in the past four years.  See other pics by following this link or by viewing the "Little Signs" Photo Albums.

Allow the light of Lourdes to touch and heal your spirit!

Our Lady of Lourdes,

pray for us!