Thus, in the seventies the wedding bells tolled for all four. Visionary Mari Cruz was the first, marrying Ignacio Caballero on May 2, 1970. Today they have four children and reside in Aviles, Spain which is 100 miles northwest of Garabandal. The other three all live in the USA, having married Americans. Conchita wed Patrick Keena on Mary 26, 1973. They live in New York with their four offspring. Mari Loli was the next on the Feast of the Presentation in 1974 when she said "I do" to Francis LaFleur in Brockton, Massachusetts. They still live there today with their three children. On February 21 Jacinta became the last visionary to marry when she exchanged vows with Jeffrey Moynihan of California, who had met her while stationed at a naval base in Spain. They have one daughter, Maria and now live in the golden state.
Not to be outdone, Joey Lomangino, the "Blind Apostle of Garabandal" even got into the act a year later when he and Marilyn Luther were married on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in Detroit with seven priests concelebrating the Nuptial Mass. They had met on an August pilgrimage to Europe.
It brought to fruition the importance Our Lady placed on the holy Sacrament of Matrimony. It’s interesting to note that of the items Our Lady acquiesced to touch, is and bless during her apparitions at Garabandal, the only article she allowed other than medals, rosaries, crucifixes, scapulars and statues were wedding rings for they represented a lasting vow to God.
Garabandal, buried beneath ecclesiastical bureaucracy in the 70’s and 80’s, has been resurrected in regard to serious investigation. Noted doctors have attested to the authenticity of the apparitions including world-renowned neuropsychiatrist Dr. Ricardo Piencernau and Dr. Luis Morales, the chief medical examiner appointed by the local ordinary.
With the permission of the bishop, the pastor Father Juan Gonzalez Gomez has opened the Village Church to pilgrim priests to say Mass whenever they go to Garabandal. Previously they had to say Mass down the mountain in nearby Cosio.
In the early nineties Bishop Jose Vilaplana Vasco, former titular bishop of Blandia and auxiliary of Valencia was appointed by the Holy See as the new ordinary for the Diocese of Santander. This 49-year old prelate is a member of Opus Dei and is said to have a great devotion to Mary. He replaced Bishop Juan Antonio Del Val Gallo who, before he left, submitted all his findings to Rome for their discernment. And so, today it is in the hands of the Holy Father. He knows its authenticity, but Vatican politics prevents him from claiming the Garabandal apparitions, like Medjugorje and other like events, as supernatural until the right time.
When will be the right time? In God’s time. For He has a timetable in which all that has been foretold will play out. Garabandal remains a major player in this master plan of the Almighty for Our Lady slowly but surely is revealing more of the Divine blueprint to visionaries and messengers throughout the world as the clock winds down and the bells begin to toll.