Translate

1.16.2011

"SINULOG" in VILVOORDE



Every 3rd Sunday of the January is commemorated as the Feast of the Child Jesus
or the "Santo Niño" not only in the Philippines but by all Filipinos in diferent parts of the world.

This image is not a identical with the real Santo Niño de Cebu, we just dressed it up to resemble it a bit for the Vilvoorde Filipino Fiesta in 2004. But this statue has sentimental value to us in Carmel because He came together with the first group of Filipina Sisters in 2003 and is now in our Novitiate Oratory and classroom as our Little King.



In Vilvoorde, we also danced the "SINULOG",
a traditional worship dance in honor of the Child Jesus.



It was the first time for Sr. Socoro, Sr Elizabeth and Sr. Paul Therese to dance the Sinulog.
Eah one has her own story to tell in relation to the Santo Niño esp. the miraculous healing of Sr Socoro from a bone cancer when she was ten years old. The whole family prayed to the Child Jesus and her mother promised to bring her every year to the Basilica del Santo Niño in Cebu.




Part of the dance was, each one was blessed by the one carrying the image
by placing it on their heads while saying a prayer.



Our Belgian Mother and Sisters joined us in the Sinulog as well.

May Our Lord reward the Sandiego Dance Company in Cebu, who gave us these beautiful costumes when we left the Philippines.



Viva Señor Santo Niño! Pit Señor!
( Long live the Holy Child! Call on the Lord!)

1.14.2011

Belated Three Kings celebration



The three Kings of the year 2011: Melchor (Sr. Aloysia), Gaspar (Sr. Carmela) & Balthazar (Sr. Maria Luisa)



With the community, after receiving their gifts.

Because there was a Filipino Mass on the Epiphany Sunday, we decided to postpone our celebration inside on the following Sunday, the Baptism of Our Lord, a fitting culmination of the Christmas season.

The three kings left a letter to the community asking them to search for them in the neighborhood as they lost their way to the crib due to the several misleading stars along the way. They left their traces on the stars, hoping that those will lead the Sisters to find them.

Our Mother found them by chance because when she had to answer the telephone via her mobile phone, she went inside the nearest room from where she was searching. And it happened to be where the 3 kings were! She then called the other Sisters, then we all went together to the crib singing, "We three kings from orient are bearing gifts, we traverse afar..."

Each sister had to guess the missing word in the message pasted on the star she found. The answer corresponded to the gift that she received. We then sang a hymn to the Child Jesus before we finally went to the recreation room for coffee and to marvel at our gifts.

1.03.2011

Three Kings

God provided us with very willing kings on the Epiphany Sunday mass with the Filipino community. Two males nurses, who just arrived from the Philippines last month came to celebrate with us the Eucharist. Not only that, they were so happy and willing when asked to be kings together with another younger boy. They went with the priest in the entrance procession, brought the Offertory and distributed gifts to the children after the mass. Everyone enjoyed and appreciated their presence. Thank you, three Kings!



Three kings during the Filipino Mass on Epiphany Sunday



Filipino children enjoying buffet on the ground



Vietnamese children of our family in Belgium were also present




And of course, inside the Sisters also had fun!