...St. Marie Eugenie of Milleret

It was a 'historical' trip to Manila. It was Ava's first. But most importantly we had been invited to attend the celebration mass of the canonization of Blessed Marie Eugenie of Milleret. The foundress of the Religious of Assumption.

2003, Febraury. Joel and I went to Manila just to hang out. Nothing serious. Oh, it was something serious. We applied for a US visa, now I remember. The day we arrived we also found out that the Ledesmas were having a little family reunion at a cousin's house. We went. It was a happy afternoon. Everyone's just been 'bugging' us about still not having any baby. Sr. Regivic, who that time was the mother superior of Assumption College (San Lo) whispered to me that she would give me something. Sr. Regivic's family lives next door where we stayed, the house of another aunt. I just forgot about it. A week passed and the next thing we knew, we were flying back to Cebu the next day. As we were going out to have dinner with friends, the helper handed me an envelope with my name on it. It was something from Sr. Regivic. A relic of Bl. Marie Eugenie and a novena prayer. I put it in my bag and didnt even find it till 2 days after coming back to Cebu. I looked at it for the longest time and texted my sis-in-law, Manang Cynch ( an Assumptionista, almost everyone in the family is from AC actually), what this relic was. It was nice, a sort of small round thing with a red something on one side. She said if it was red, then it was a clothing of Bl. Marie E. Cool, i remembered thinking. Then it dawned on me. There were Eugenies in the family. Manang C's daughter, Socorro Marie Eugenie...the youngest cousin, Marie Antonette Eugenie. They were all Assumptionistas. I gave Joel the copy of the novena prayer. There was only one so we put it on the shelf so any one of us would have "access" to it. I didnt even pray 'religiously'. It was random. I didnt even pray the novena hourly or daily. I just spoke with Bl. Marie Eugenie anytime I wanted. I could be watching tv and think about her and ask her to bless us with a child. This was already March. We went to Manila the last week of February. I'd talk to her in my dreams and in my sleep. Even when I was taking a shower. Id talk to her all the time. And it wasnt even those ' tearful" and "forceful" kinda praying. It was just like talking to a friend in heaven. I knew She would give me what I asked for. It wasjust a matter of time. And that time came 3 months later. I conceived In May. A girl. The future Charlotte Alyssa Eugenie. I emailed Sr. Regivic right away about the news. After e long years. We finally have our baby Eugenie.

Thus, our trip to Manila. Pope Benedict XVI canonized St. Marie Eugenie in the Vatican in June 3, 2007. Assumption College of Manila was going to have a celebration mass at the Manila Cathedral. We went. We marched with other miracle Marie Eugenie babies (MME) but most were adults already. The girl who's miracle gave way to the canonization was a Filipina and she was there. Too bad we werent able to take a photo with her. It was a wonderful celebration. Some relatives were there. Socorro Marie was there. But Marie Antonette didnt make it to Manila that weekend. This will be Alyssa's part of a religious historical event. It will be hers forever. Our little beautiful Eugenie. (Eu-jee-ni)