By Susan Horn
The Filipino Catholic Community of Gouda held its annual Flores de Mayo (flowers of May) and Santacruzan (holy cross) last May 22, 2022. Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan are typical devotional native celebrations of the Filipinos to Mama Mary in the month of May.
A procession outside the Josephkerk in Gouda was led by Fr. Marcel Uzoigwe, CSSp and Fr. John Bosco Ezedimbu, CSSp. The Community, holding flowers, sung songs in honor of the blessed Virgin Mary. At the end of the procession was the Reyna Elena bearing the traditional cross, representing the true cross of Jesus found by Helena of Constantinopole. The procession ended inside the church, where each participant offered flowers to the Virgin Mother. Thereafter, the cross held by the Reyna Elena was placed at the altar. The priests then prayed and blessed the celebration while the community continued to sing Mary’s song in between.
Below are some photos taken during the Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan celebration.
