Fr Francis Ly leads the procession around the St Francis of Assisi Church. Photo: George Favacho.
Coming together as a united people in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary was behind Maida Vale Parish’s third annual Flores de Mayo celebrations on 5 May.
Flores de Mayo, meaning “Flowers of May” in Spanish, is a tradition introduced by the Spaniards in the mid-1800s to the Filipino people, as a tribute to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
During the Flores de Mayo celebrations in Philippines, people would bring daily offerings of the flower to Mary for the whole month of May.
Maida Vale Parish Priest Father Francis Ly, assisted by Deacon Albert Atkinson, led the Angelus and Rosary at the Parish’s prayer garden.
Procession of Our Lady of Fatima at Maida Vale Parish. Photo: George Favacho.
Three youth parishioners bearing Mother Mary Titles: Dominique Ituriaga as Queen of Peace, Mariah Gotiangco as Health of the Sick, and Jamyka Montero as Refuge of Sinners. Photo: George Favacho.
Event organiser Maria Filamora said the celebration was adapted – with the opening process kept unchanged to match the original celebration of Flores de Mayo.
“Children dressed in white a statue of Mother Mary carried around the parish grounds as a way of honouring her,” she said.
Although it is typically a Filipino celebration, Maria said the whole parish community came together, so as to not make it a celebration only for Filipinos.
Children cast for Angels & Ave Maria. Photo: George Favacho.
Parishioners representing their nations were invited to wear their national costumes, with each nation bringing their own statues of the Blessed Mother, with the Hail Mary being recited in eight different languages
“Everyone had their own statues of Mother Mary, and in the end it became a tribute to Our Lady of All Nations,” Maria said.
“This year, among the many languages we had German, Indian, Portuguese, French, Vietnam and Tagalog.
“From many countries and many languages, we gathered as one,” she concluded.