Fil-Canadians bring Flores de Mayo tradition to their local parish

Angels, sagalas, and konsortes are all set for Flores de Mayo at St. Paschal Baylon parish in Thornhill, Ontario. PHOTOS BY MARISA ROQUE

THORNHILL, Ontario — April showers did bring May flowers, and Filipino Canadian devotees to the Blessed Mother offered blooms by way of the traditional Flores de Mayo procession here on May 3.

Held after the monthly Filipino mass, the festivities saw approximately 150 parishioners troop in a circuit around the grounds of St. Paschal Baylon Roman Catholic Church at 92 Steeles Avenue West, while praying the rosary.  Leading the procession were girls representing Philippine flowers like sampaguita and waling-waling, dressed in long gowns and escorted by young boys, elegant in their barong Tagalog.

Such traditional processions are ubiquitous in Philippine provinces–even in the big cities of Metro Manila.  It was certainly a pleasant surprise for most to see a Flores de Mayo procession transplanted to a suburban community setting in Ontario.

No Flores de Mayo celebration is complete without the whole community partaking of traditional fiesta fare, and this event was no exception.  Everybody was treated to a merienda cena in the parish hall, prepared and served by the members of the church’s Filipino Support Group.

The procession’s highlight–offering flowers to the Blessed Mother.

The Filipino Support Group (FSG) of St. Paschal Baylon began in January 1993 when the Parish Council approved to have Filipino masses every first Sunday of the month.  This is the main purpose behind the founding of FSG.  At the time, then newly ordained Fr. Mario Lorenzana, the first Filipino Scalabrinian priest, was assigned to St. Paschal to look after the growing Filipino community.

Since then, FSG has grown from supporting the monthly Filipino masses to initiating outreach programs in and outside of Canada. According to Rick Cortes, FSG coordinator, there are 75 members that provide assistance–monetary or in kind–during major activities during the year.

Fund raising projects are held annually to raise funds for the following:

• Scalabrini Center for People on the Move (Philippines)–the Center provides temporary shelter, preventive education on the gains and pains of migration, counselling and orientation, networking, legal aid and referrals, and other pertinent information to Filipino migrants as well as refugees from other countries.
• Scalabrini Formation Centre (Philippines)–extends financial support to Filipino seminarians in their first year in the Formation Center.
• St. Paschal Baylon Church (Thornhill)–also receives aid in order to support those who carry on their mission
• Street children in the Philippines and homes for the aged receive financial and material help.

No Filipino gathering is complete without traditional fiesta fare. Fr. Anthony blesses the food prepared by the parish’s Filipino Support Group.

Here at home, FSG, in partnership with the Catholic Community Services of York Region (CCSYR), hold the following workshops: immigration and labor laws affecting caregivers; free counseling in partnership with labor/immigration volunteer lawyers; career planning seminars for caregivers; personal and professional development for Filipino newcomers; parenting seminars.

The Scalabrinians, or the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles, was founded by Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini, Bishop of Piacenza, on November 28, 1887, to assist migrants on their way from the Old World to the New.

Fr. Mario Lorenzana, Fr. Joe Africa and Fr. Anthony Pizarro officiate at the annual Flores de Mayo procession.

Bishop Scalabrini envisioned the congregation working as “migrants with the migrants.  By the word ‘migrant’, we intend not only permanent migrants, but also temporary migrant workers, seafarers, and refugees,” states the congregation’s website.

The FSG also conducts annual “Visita Iglesia” on Holy Thursdays, and an annual “Kasalang Bayan” for parishioners who want to get married in the church.  This year’s “Kasalang Bayan” will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, at St. Paschal Baylon Church.

“The FSG activities are only one way that transplanted Filipinos in the parish can help assuage homesickness and feel that sense of belonging in the community, by following our traditions,” according to Fr. Anthony Pizzaro, FSG’s current spiritual director.

Fr. Vincenzo Rosato, C.S., is the pastor of St. Paschal Baylon Church.

To join the FSG, call Rick Cortes at 905-889-9021.

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