This question was expanded on by a Filipino priest, Father Vincent, in his sermon during the First Filipino Mass in the Greensburg Diocese, held at the Immaculate Conception Church in Irwin, PA on July 8, 2019. Father Vincent is one of the seventeen priests from the Philippines called upon to help out the Greensburg diocese due to the dwindling number of priests in the United States.
The whole liturgy was in Filipino including his sermon. He did translate some of his jokes in English to the delight of the predominantly English speaking audience. I was eager to hear how he would address this question especially in a sermon. I should have guessed. It is our faith! He made his point using two statues we have devotions for.
The whole liturgy was in Filipino including his sermon. He did translate some of his jokes in English to the delight of the predominantly English speaking audience. I was eager to hear how he would address this question especially in a sermon. I should have guessed. It is our faith! He made his point using two statues we have devotions for.
The first one he mentioned was the Infant Jesus of Prague which almost every household in the Philippines including ours has a statue of. For him, the devotion reflects our love for children. I would like to add this symbolizes also the trusting spirit and positive childlike nature exhibited by the Filipinos.
The second one Father Vincent mentioned is the Black Nazarene, which is the statue of Jesus kneeling as he carries the cross. We have this in most churches in the Philippines and once a year millions, mostly men, attend the procession outside the Quiapo Church in the Philippines to celebrate its feast. For Father Vincent this devotion reflects the persevering spirit of Filipinos as they meet challenges and sufferings in their lives including the ones they undergo when they migrate to another country.
I would like to add a third one, Out Lady of Perpetual Help, which is not a statue but a painting of iconic origin of the Blessed Mother with baby Jesus. For me, this symbolizes the Bayanihan spirit of the Filipinos or their desire to unite and help their neighbor in times of need. This characteristic is exemplified by these seventeen Filipino priests as they share their ministry with the Greensburg Diocese.
The gratefulness of the diocese and its members was palpable that night as they worshiped and sang with the Filipinos in a language foreign to them during Mass and feasted on a grand buffet of Filipino food after. It was a joyous night assuring each other we are in this together.
The gratefulness of the diocese and its members was palpable that night as they worshiped and sang with the Filipinos in a language foreign to them during Mass and feasted on a grand buffet of Filipino food after. It was a joyous night assuring each other we are in this together.
No comments:
Post a Comment