The Youth For Christ group had a double duty at the mass, singing in the choir and performing the Sinulog dance. Photo: Supplied.
Filipino Catholics of Maida Vale Parish St Francis Assisi Church held their inaugural celebration of one of the most important religious observances in their homeland – the Feast of Santo Niño de Cebú.
More than 250 people were in attendance for the occasion on 13 January with religious relic icon of Holy Infant Jesus in hand.
It is tradition for the Catholic Filipino community to gather together every January for the Feast of the Santo Niño, more popularly known in the Philippines as the “Sinulog Festival”.
Parish Pastoral Council Chairperson Maria Filamor organised the event, with the theme in mind of: “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them”.
Mrs Filamor described the occasion as “a foretaste of the future of Maida Vale Parish, St Francis Assisi Church”.
“The children are capable, ready and willing to serve and be part of a vibrant Church,” she said.
“Although it was a Filipino event, we encouraged other nationalities to join us for the celebration. A lot of other non-Filipino parishioners said we should definitely do it again next year.”
The 12-inch tall statue of Jesus as a small boy typically dressed as a king of Spanish royalty, is an image revered as miraculous by many Filipino Catholics.
Dominique Ituriaga (left) and Sidney Rios hold the Holy Infant Jesus and Mother Mary statues respectively. Photo: Supplied.
A Mass in honour of the Feast of the Holy Infant Jesus was celebrated by Rev Fr Gerome Dalipe, a Filipino Priest from the Diocese of Bunbury, and assisted by Deacon Trevor Lyra.
Fr Dalipe was a frequent visitor to Maida Vale Parish during his time as a young seminarian at St Charles in Guildford, and has also celebrated Mass for the Simbang Gabi Christmas Novena at the parish.
In his homily, he said believers were “truly blessed” because of the faith in the Santo Niño since the 15th century, which was passed on from generation to generation.
The event was planned in collaboration with the Youth For Christ – CFC Global.
The music ministry for the Mass and the traditional Sinulog dancers for the colourful and energetic procession around the church was organised by group leaders Joy Intervencion and Nhormar Borja.
The Sinulog dance step represents “one step backward” to learn from our past, and “two steps forward” to face our future with child-like faith and the confidence of God’s abundant blessing.