Friday, June 7, 2013

Sacred Heart Parish (Santuario Eucharistico) Fiesta

June 7, 2013-- Sacred Heart Parish (also known as Santuario Eucharistico) Fiesta.

We had a very great day today. Our Parish, The Sacred Heart Parish, here in Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro, joined the entire Church in celebrating the feastday of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Many among mass goers wore red shirts to grace the occasion.


As I remember, some previous days ago, many volunteers-- spearheaded by the Parish Pastoral Council, were already busy preparing and decorating the entire parish church. From the facade of the church upto ceilings and pews, volunteers untirelessly exerted so much an effort to clean each of them. Linens and cloth were changed. Flowers were arranged. Until every details has been fitted perfectly in their places on the day of the celebration. All their contributions, like the Sacred Heart of Jesus, were labor of love.



From time to time, the office has been receiving calls of confirmation of their fiesta pledges. One example, the attending alumi of a nearby school, make their batch's homecoming more meaningful by sponsoring medical mission inside the parish. In cooperation with the Sacred Heart Parish Health Clinic, they provided free check-ups, medicines and they even gave counsellings with their patients.



You know, within our parish's vicinity, many people were also suffering poverty. They were scavenging with their bare hands for food and recyclable materials in a nearby garbage disposal area. The parish maintains a Parish Health Clinic  where through the generous sponsorship of our benefactors, the clinic has been able to give free medical check-ups and medicines to our parishioners who are in need. 


When I took this picture, the little children run toward me and asked me about tonight's fiesta celebration. I told them to attend (which they never miss each year). Tonight, the parish would treat all of us. We will be having a party for the young and the old; and for the rich and the poor.


We will aslo serve pancit tonight. We have been buying the ingredients since yesterday. Ate Susan, our cook, already prepared the necessary ingredients. She already peeled and chopped them this morning.


Some parish organisations members, already brought in the cans of pineapple which will be repacked later; and will be served tonight as dessert.


Outside, the youths with Sister Marge, started to decorate the venue.


We all had a very sumptous lunch together. We put onto our soiled hands plastic gloves and we started digging in.

It was 2:00 pm, Doydoy, one of our scholars, was already cooking the rice outside when a heavy rain poured in. It flooded our cooking area.


We transferred the entire cooking set-up into another place and hung a tarp over it. Now, the cooking spree went on.

Together, we attended the afternoon mass in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.


The SSS priests-- Fr. Thonn, Fr. Marlon and Fr. Grogee concelebrated with Fr. Joel, our parish priest.


After the mass, we envited the parishioners to dine with us. The young and the old; and the rich and the poor ate together. It is our Congregation's Eucharistic charism.


It was a pleasure for all of our parish volunteers to organize with us and to serve their fellows.


Br. Ronald, from the Consolacion Parish also helped in. They chopped three lechon into bite size before they were served.


After eating, a funfilled program was held. The host announced winners of celfons and celfon loads from the raffle draws.




In between raffles, performances from different parish's organizations and chapels were showcased. Some entertained the crowd with their song number.


There were other contests like the immortal, 'Stop Dance.' This time they did it with a twist. Participants danced while the music was turned-off. We all laugh with this. Then after the game, another performers was called, this time, they danced into the grove.



We had all the fun. Prizes were given away. Talents were showcased. Everybody ate to the full.

Before the night grew older, Fr. Joel, our parish priest, gave his expression of gratitude for everybody's cooperation. This event was the fruit of the collaborative generosity of many a people.




Truly, the Spirit of God's grace radiating from the Sacred Heart of Jesus has painted a smile in each and everyone's heart. All of us was touched by the occasion. We all bid goodbye and has promised to return early tomorrow for the procession honoring the 'Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary' of the entire Philippines. Tomorrow will be another day. I'm sure, it will be another grace-filled day.




Br. Den Mar

No comments: