By Susan Horn-Perez
Sunday, May 26, 2019, the Filipino Catholic Community of Gouda and Surroundings held the first ever Flores de Mayo, Santacruzan and the Children’s Mass at the OLV Hemelvaartkerk in Gouda.
Flores de Mayo (flowers of May) and Santacruzan ( holy cross) are devotional native festivities of Filipinos to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the month of May. Flores de Mayo involves offering flowers to the image of the Virgin Mary. It is being done for the entire month of May. Santacruzan, which commemorates the alleged finding of the true cross by Helena of Constantinople, is done on the last day of the Flores de Mayo. It is a procession of people, mostly women, representing biblical characters and Marian titles. At the end of the procession is the Reyna Elena (in honor of Helena) carrying a cross.
The activity started at 1 o’clock in the afternoon with the Flores de Mayo, participated by the adult members of the church, each carrying a flower and offering at the altar bearing the image of Mama Mary.
It was immediately followed by the Santacruzan. Young members of the church took part in the procession, each carrying symbols from the bible and Mary titles. Three children each carried a figure of a cross, an anchor and a red heart, representing the three theological virtues of faith, hope and charity, respectively. Other participants were carrying symbols such as a star (Mary Queen of the Stars), flower boquet (Mary Queen of Flowers), dove (Mary Queen of Peace) and the cross in honor of Reyna Elena (Queen Helena who allegedly found the true cross).
By 2 o’clock, led by Fr. Charles Ajogi, CSSp, the Children’s mass follwed. It is a eucharistic celebration with texts and readings simplified for children to understand. The young members of the church did the liturgical readings, prayer of the faithful and joined in the choir singing. Towards the end of the mass, Fr. Charles summoned the children in front and blessed them.
On a joyous note, with the FCC Gouda members, parents and children working hand in hand as one community, the month of May was a victorious month!