Above picture showed the formation of the Diocese of Orange Knights of Columbus before the start of the Mass inside Saints Simon and Jude Church, Huntington Beach, CA
FFRGOC members, officers and board of directors want to thank everyone especially Saints Simon and Jude Church parish headed by the Pastor, Reverend Reynold Furrell who assigned Colleen Murray, Pastoral Administrator as the liason between the church and FFRGOC and all the staff for attending, participating and making our yearly event , the Rosary Rally a success .
We are very pleased that we have more people who participated in this event despite COVID19 challenges . Our event's goal is bring together people of the same faith and give honor and devotion to our Blessed Virgin Mary by praying the living rosary together plus celebrating the Holy Mass incorporating our Filipino culture through the use of different Filipino dialects in our liturgy , liturgical dance and symbolic offerings reminiscent of our history highlighted by the singing of our FFRGOC choir in English and Tagalog - Philippine official language. FFRGOC members, officers and Board of Directors and attendees were requested to wear Filipina attire for women and men to wear their barong, a formal attire for men, which made the event more festive.
Pulling off a successful event is a considerable feat that requires a lot of preparation with good leaders and supporting team of volunteers from our FFRGOC membership. Highlights are the following of what took place:
Initial kick-off meeting as early as July 15 at St. Simon and Jude (SSJ) facilities with Colleen Murray, the liason as present and our spiritual advisor, Father Caboboy.
Save the date flyer was sent via email and announced on our website;
Project timeline was developed complete with names of volunteers, dates and tasks involved including but not limited to estimate of attendees, budget, donations, committees formed and the team members, working with FFRGOC choir, decorating the carosa, and communication to SSJ liason as to logistics such as tables and chairs, facilities to be used , working with SSJ staff as to the availability of the church premises and respecting the ongoing events at the church, arranging the event to be livestream who worked so well with FFRGOC volunteers.
Architectural blueprint or layout of the specific areas needed for the event was also provided by SSJ plus actual exposure of the facilities of one of our board member, Boots Mercado, an SSJ parishioner helped. She was also instrumental to talking to SSJ pastor that our event take place at SSJ.
Attached is a powerpoint presentation prepared by Mary Ann Puzon, Director of Social Services which is very well done as a point of reference to connect everyone and zero in on tasks that still need to be done.
Following "Practice makes perfect" FFRGOC prepared the carosa close to the date of the event using beautiful flowers and greens with our Blessed Virgin Mary in the middle of it. We also had rehearsal of the event from start to finish although abbreviated to make sure participants were aware of their different roles.
These selected and relevant pictures will tell you the story including the efforts and sacrifices and fun that went with it.
PREPARING THE CAROSA AND TABLES SET - OCTOBER 28
Considering the Art of Flower Arranging and Ensuring the Color and Freshness of the flowers and greens with Boots Mercado, Cora Biglang Awa, Glenn Puzon and Joey Mercado
Nenita Miyata, Boots Mercado, Cora Biglang Awa, Fely Claudio, Sol Solorano, me and Mary Ann Puzon busy working on the flower arrangement on the carosa - Picture courtesy of Nenita Miyata
Marlon Agbayani, Glenn Puzon and Joey Mercado discussing how to put together the carosa - Picture courtesy of Nenita Miyata
Fely Claudio, me, Sol Sollorano, Cora Biglang Awa cutting the flower stems and taking out damaged petals and leaves -
Picture courtesy of Nenita Miyata
Chat Agbayani and Mary Ann Puzon preparing the vases - Picture courtesy of Nenita Miyata
Sol Sollorano and Cora Biglang Awa busy preparing the tables to box the lunches for attendees of the event
The Volunteers wearing their comfy clothes with the finished beautiful carosa - Cora Biglang Awa, me, Mary Ann Puzon, Boots Mercado, Fely Claudio, Sol Sollorano, Nenita Miyata
Our Carosa with the beautiful Blessed Virgin Mary using fresh flowers and greens
REHEARSAL - OCTOBER 29
Fely Claudio busy explaining the route of the living rosary to the participants at SSJ Community Hall
Evelyn and Eli Ruiz and other participants listening at SSJ Community Hall
Southwest Area 1 participants - Art Bantugan, Emma Firme and Rica Werner taking a break at SSJ Community Hall
Debbie Gonzales, Eli Ruiz and Madeline Del Villar and other participants taking a break at SSJ Community Hall
Mary Ann Puzon, Fely Claudio, Wally Claudio taking a break at SSJ Community Hall
Larry Orque Jr., the maestro, leading FFRGOC choir practice inside SSJ church
Fely Claudio instructing and Boots Mercado and Evelyn Ruiz listening inside SSJ church
Liturgy Service Practice with the Cantor inside SSJ church
LIVING ROSARY, PROCESSION TO CHURCH AND MASS CELEBRATION - OCTOBER 31
Early preparation of the banquet table and tables and chairs for our special guests - the Clergy, Knights of Columbus and FFRGOC Past Presidents with Chat Agbayani
Our team of volunteers ready to put food inside the boxes for lunches of attendees - Picture courtesy of Nenita Miyata
Cleaned and covered the tables where attendees can eat by Nenita Miyata while Dean Miyata helped on the unloading of bottles of water
Registration by letters for those people who RSVP and following COVID19 guidelines and handed meal tickets and giveaways and a voluntary donation box was made available by Mary Ann Puzon, Lynn Maglalang and Cora Biglang Awa and another volunteer
Lining up the Rosary Beads represented by blue flowers - Each decade was recited by Area Members within a Chapter - Picture courtesy of Nenita Miyata
Elsa Espiritu holding the Blessed Virgin Mary Frame connecting the rosary beads while the participants were getting ready to pray the living rosary
President Debbie Gonzales with her husband Ely, Helen Alonzo, Cora Biglang Awa and Boots Mercado started the living rosary
Participants praying the Living Rosary - Picture courtesy of Nenita Miyata
Area Members within a Chapter praying the living rosary with the Blessed Virgin Mary in the center of the carosa as the focal point
FFRGOC Choir members sang beautifully in between decades of the living rosary with Mary Ann Puzon, another member and Glenn Puzon - PIcture courtesy of Jonathan Alonso
More Area members within the Chapter praying the living rosary - Picture courtesy of Nenita Miyata
Other Area Members within the Chapter praying the living rosary - Picture courtesy of Jonathan Alonso
Knights of Columbus, The Carosa of the Blessed Virgin Mary and President Debbie and her husband Ely started the procession to the Church
Lots of attendees participating in the procession to the Church - Picture courtesy of Nenita Miyata
More people in the procession of the living rosary to the church
Beautiful songs played by the guitarist during the procession
Two Persons behind the scene that made our event successful - SSJ Liason Colleen Murray and Craig Myers, SSJ Custodian
Southwest Area 1 participants - me, Ellen Bantugan, Cora Cuevas and Gloria Nihei in line to offer flowers to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Attendees getting ready for the Mass Celebration - Picture courtesy of Jonathan Alonso
FFRGOC Choir who sang so beautiful during the mass celebration - Picture courtesy of Larry Orque, Jr.
Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Orange Most Rev. Thanh Thai Nguyen , Father Caboboy and Larry Orque Jr. with the Clergy Assistants - Picture Courtesy of Larry Orque, Jr.
LUNCH RECEPTION - OCTOBER 30
Group of Volunteers who put the food in boxes and distributed to attendees
Knights of Columbus of the Diocese of Orange who looked so dapper and knightly including our very own FFRGOC Area Officer Art Bantugan ready to have lunch
FFRGOC Past Presidents Art Diaz, Eli Ruiz, Joe Arevalo, Lino Aldana, Irene Alzate and Present President Debbie Gonzales with their better half ready to have lunch
FFRGOC Past Presidents Eli Ruiz and Irene Alzate, Mrs. Lino Aldana and Knights of Columbus helping themselves with yummy food
Reminishing - Past Presidents Joe Arevalo and Art Diaz with Current President Debbie Gonzales enjoying the food
Attendees were given a choice to bring home their boxed lunches or eat on a sunny day on the school tables reserved for lunches - Picture courtesy of Nenita Miyata
FFRGOC members and families enjoying the lunches - Picture courtesy of Nenita Miyata
FFRGOC Choir Group dressed up in their beautiful barongs and blouses with hand painted flowers eating their lunches - Picture courtesy of Nenita Miyata
Beautiful liturgical dancers in blue and family and Wilma Romasoc who made the liturgical dance possible - Picture courtesy of Nenita Miyata
Southwest Area 1 Members and Holy Spirit Ministry members enjoying their lunches - Emma Firme, Filipino Ministry Chairperson, Linda Loreto,Julie Ancheta, Gloria Nihei, Dulce Argostino, Odeeh Medrano, Ellen Bantugan and Cora Cuevas
Ready to go home afte a long day ladies - Madeline Del Villar, Mary Ann Puzon, Fely Claudio and me
We used the storyline format and using more pictures so you become part of the event especially if you were not able to join us physically. FFRGOC hopes to see you more in our future events so you can also enjoy the camaraderie and food and express our faith to Jesus through Mary by reciting the Holy Rosary.
Below is the updated timeline of our Rosary Rally from 1994 -2021
Hope you enjoy our blog of the event! More to follow.
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