FFRGOC, through the leadership of our President, Debbie Gonzales, sent an email regarding the Pista ni Maria events for 2021. This is in line with our mission statement to continue and practice our faith as one organization despite this pandemic times.
In order for us to plan properly, please follow the guidelines wirtten by Debbie Gonzales:
"RSVP Required For In-Person church attendance at the May Crowning Celebration at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, please send your RSVP by the due date deadline of April 27, 2021 to Mary Ann Puzon via email at preciousgem14@cox.net or by phone at (949) 294-5625. FFRGOC is required to follow church mandated capacity requirements, hence, RSVP received will be on a first come first serve basis.
ATTENTION CHAPTER DIRECTORS - Please distribute these flyers as soon as possible in order that Area rosary members can call in their RSVP to Mary Ann Puzon since the due date deadline is April 27, 2021."
We will celebrate the May 8, 2021 crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the 9 day virtual novena or actual church celebrations and attached are the scheduled events. Flyers have been removed since the events took plac.e
May 8, 2021 Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Holy Spirit Church
May 8, 2021 Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Father Wayne welcoming everyone inside the church. Picture is courtesy of Larry Orque, Jr. B.M., Keyboard/Soloist of FFRGOC Choir .
May 8, 2021 Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Holy Spirit Church, Fountain Valley, CA
Highlight: Ama Namin (Our Father) Song - Part of the Mass Celebration with Father Juan Caboboy, Spiritual Advisor, FFRGOC and Father Wayne, Parochial Vicar, Holy Spirit Church as celebrants.
Cantor: Isabelle Lacanilao
Keyboard/Soloist: Larry Orque Jr. B.M.
MAY 8, 2021 - ACTUAL EVENT (PICTURES IN SEQUENCE AS SCHEDULED )
Registration
FFRGOC follows the CDC pandemic guidelines and also guided by one of our health professional, Fely Claudio, FFRGOC Board Member, First Vice President, Internal Affairs. Each guest is required to RSVP for capacity purposes and register for tracking purposes on our events plus wear the face masks. With almost everyone being vaccinated, social distancing is more relaxed than before.
Our hands-on FFRGOC President Debbie Gonzales in blue Filipino attire, is talking to FFRGOC volunteers to make sure everything runs smooth.
Registration was in progress. Pictures were courtesy of Lino Aldana, previous FFRGOC President.
Lourdes Gutchneck, Central East Area 2 Assistant Chairperson , Minda Aldana of Christ Cathedral, Helen Alonzo. Auditor, Necing Arrabaca , Central East Chapter Director with President Debbie Gonzales were ready to register.
2. Holy Rosary and Novena Prayers by the Grotto
Beautiful grotto of Blessed Virgin Mary at Holy Spirit Church grounds
a. Flower offering and placement of flowers
Selected participants offered roses to our Blessed Virgin Mary. Picture was courtesy of Ely Ruiz, Seminarian Program Director.
Placement of the flowers in front of the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Helen Alonso, Auditor and Boots Mercado, Treasurer helping participants in the placement.
FFRGOC choir sang Ave Maria during flower offering . Video is courtesy of Larry Orque, Jr. B.M., Keyboard/Soloist of FFRGOC choir.
b. Recitation of the Holy Rosary and Novena Prayers and Singing of the Choir
Recitation of Rosary was initially led by Evelyn Ruiz, Northeast Chapter Director and Ely Ruiz, Seminarian Program Director
Attendees praying the rosary and novena prayers. Picture is courtesy of Ely Ruiz, Seminarain Program Director.
FFRGOC choir sang different songs in between the decades of the rosary recitation
Some of the people who worked hard organizing the event - Sol Solorano, Second Vice President- External Affairs, Lorraine Betts, Public Relations Officer, Nenita Miyata, Southwest Area Chapter Director and husband and wife team, Ely and Debbie Gonzales, President with the beautiful flower girls.
Men behind the scenes arrranging tables and chairs for the attendees, Bert Mones, Southwest Area Chairperson, Rene Solorano, better half of Sol Solorano and Joey Mercado, better half of our treasurer, Boots Mercado on the first picture
Ernie Delfin, Director of Charity is on the second picture. Not shown on the picture is Art Bantugan, Southwest Area 1 Chairman who also helped on the setup.
Lino Aldana, previous President of FFRGOC mentioned these men to me and took pictures.
d. Procession from the Grotto to Church and singing the Processional song
3. Mass Celebration at Holy Spirit Church
a. Entrance of celebrants of the Mass - Father Wayne and Father Caboboy preceded by participants
Beautiful flower girls, one of them is the granddaughter of Wilma Romasoc, Central West Chapter Director
Keyboard/Soloist, Larry Orque, Jr. B.M. and Cantor, Isabelle Lacanilao getting ready for the Mass Celebration
The Faithful getting ready for the celebration of the Holy Mass
Entrance of celebrants, Father Wayne and Father Caboboy
b. Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Entrance of Hermana Mayors - Rica Werner, Southwest Area 1 Auditor and Nenita Miyata, Southwest Area Chapter Director, to crown the Blessed Virgin Mary
Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Hermana Mayors - Rica Werner. Southwest Area 1 Auditor and Nenita Miyata, Southwest Area Chapter Director
c. First Reading -Lector is Mars Del Villar, South Chapter Director
d. Gospel - Father Wayne
e. Prayer of the Faithful - Lorraine Betts, Public Relations Officer
f. Offertory - Fathr Wayne and Father Caboboy
g. The Lord's prayer - Ama Namin(featured above)
h. Communion
i. Acknowledgement by Debbie Gonzales, President of FFRGOC
k. Sharing of Food hosted by FFRGOC
Dr. Lita Casquejo , former Religious Enrichment Director but still very active in helping FFRGOC on scheduling events on her parish with Minda Aldana of Christ Catherdral and wife of Lino Aldana, former President were ready to partake in the sharing of food.
l. Souvenir Group Photos
FFRGOC Choir who supports us on our events - Please refer to names of choir members on the other blog.
Picture of people with different roles from Keyboard/Soloist - Larry Orque, Jr. B.M. to Mars del Villar, South Chapter Director, Secretary and Web Coordinator - B. Delfin, President Debbie Gonzales, Evelyn Ruiz, Northeast Chapter Director to Ely Ruiz, Seminarian Program Director.
Picture is courtesy of Ely Ruiz, Seminarian Program Director.
The men behind it all through the years - Mars Del Villar, South Chapter Director, Ely Ruiz, Seminarian Program Director and Lino Aldana, former Prsident.
Picture is courtesy of Ely Ruiz, Seminarian Program Director.
And not to forget the power of women through the years - Sol Sollorano, Second VP - External Affairs, Debbie Gonzales, President and Evelyn Ruiz, Northeast Chapter Director.
Picture is courtesy of Ely Ruiz, Seminarian Program Director.
May 4, 2021 Day 5 of the 8 Days Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary
May 4, 2021 - Day 5 of the 9 days Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary at Holy Spirit Church (Procession for Flower Offering, Recitation of Holy Rosary, Mass Celebration and Sharing of food after the Mass)
Started the Procession of Flower Offering led by Filipino Ministry Chairman, Linda Loreto and Vice-Chairman, Emma Firme. Picture is courtesy of Nenita Miyata, FFRGOC Southwest Chapter Director.
More members/officers of the Filipino Ministry Group and FFRGOC and American friends participated on the Procession of the Flower Offering. Picture is courtesy of Nenita Miyata, FFRGOC Southwest Chapter Director.
The Placement of flowers in front of our Blessed Virgin Mary by FFRGOC Secretary and Web Coordinator B. Delfin and FFRGOC Director of Charity Ernie Delfin and FFRGOC Southwest Area 1 Treasurer - Cora Cuevas.
Picture is courtesy of Nenita Miyata, FFRGOC Southwest Chapter Director
Recitation of the Holy Rosary hosted by Filipino Ministry Group and FFRGOC members and officers and American friends participating.
Participants reciting the Holy Rosary . Picture is courtesy of Nenita Miyata, FFROC Southwest Chapter Director
Father Wayne and his sacristan, Linda Loreto, going to the altar to celebrate the mass. Picture is courtesy of Nenita Miyata, FFROC Southwest Chapter Director
Father Wayne, Parochial Vicar of Holy Spirit Church and of Filipino descent from Lipa City, Batangas, a kababayan of the author, entering the Church to celebrate the Holy Mass for the Pista ni Maria event
Gospel and Epistle readings by Father Wayne and Marissa Lau, Filipino Ministry Member. during the mass. Pictures are courtesy of Lino Aldana, previous President of FFRGOC.
Father Wayne delivering his homily and connecting to the audience mostly of Filipino descent i(Filipino Ministry Group members, FFRGOC members and previous/current officers from different parishes) and American friends about his early exposure to the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary before he decided to be a priest. His anecdotes of food and his visits to the church at a very young age, made his homily funny, interesting, factual and short but meaningful.
Communion of the Faithful as part of the Mass Celebration . Picture is courtesy of Nenita Miyata, FFRGOC Southwest Chapter Director
Father Wayne talking with comforting words to our Filipino Ministry members, Stan and Ethel Escalante, who are currently physically challenged. Picture is courtesy of Nenita Miyata, FFRGOC Southwest Chapter Director
An event is usually measured as a success by the participation and attendance during the event especially now that most of us are vaccinated for COVID19 and we thank Jesus through his mother Mary for our health and well being.
Yes indeed, event was a success due to the team efforts of the Filipino Ministry Group and FFRGOC officers and members and officers from different parishes and American friends who participated and attended the event.
Let us all give ourselves a pat on the back for a job well done!
Filipino culture always punctuates our events by sharing food. Boxes of snacks/dinner were served by our Filipino Ministry Group Servants/Leaders of our Blessed Virgin Mary, from the food and cash donated by its members and from Sol Sollorano, FFRGOC Board Member - Second Vice President External Affairs, who also guided us on the ceremony.
Attendees from far and near, were ready to partake in the sharing of food after the mass celebration. Picture is courtesy of Lino Aldana, previous President of FFRGOC.
Our FFRGOC events will not be complete without the tireless efforts and time and resources this couple contributes ... Nenita and Dean Miyata.
Nenita was not included in the group picture since she is always taking pictures of our events and everyone sincerely appreciate her efforts and Dean Miyata.
9 Days Virtual Novena Prayers
The 9 days Virtual Novena Prayers in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary were held through Zoom from April 30 - May 8, 2021 and coordinated by Evelyn Ruiz, Northeast Chapter Directo who also provided the pictures and data of these virtual novena prayers.
These one hour prayer meetings were divided into two parts i.e. brief presentation of the Area Host(s) and followed by praying the Holy Rosary and Novena prayers by the participants who were FFRGOC Members/Officers and Parish(es) members.
Pictures of the participants are as follows :
April 30- Northeast Chapter, Area 7 St. Joseph Church, Placentia, CA
April 30- Northeast Chapter, Area 7 St. Joseph Church, Placentia, CA
May 1 - Southwest Chapter, Area 2 - Holy Family Church, Seal Beach, CA
May 1 - Southwest Chapter, Area 2 - Holy Family Church, Seal Beach, CA
May 2 - South Chapter, Areas 2 & 4 - St. Nicholas Church, Laguna Woods, CA
May 2 - South Chapter, Areas2 & 4 - St. Nicholas Church, Laguna Woods, CA
May 3 - Northeast Chapter, Area 2 - Holy Family Cathedral, Orange, CA
May 4 - Southwest Chapter, Area1- Holy Spirit Church, Fountain Valley, CA
May 4 - Southwest Chapter, Area1- Holy Spirit Church, Fountain Valley, CA
May 5 - South Chapter, Area1,- San Francisco Solano, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
May 5 - South Chapter, Area1,- San Francisco Solano, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
May 6 - Central West Chapter, Area 1 - St. Polycarp Church, Stanton, CA
May 6 - Central West Chapter, Area 1 - St. Polycarp Church, Stanton, CA
May 7 - Central East Chapter Area 2 - St. Columban Church, Garden Grove, CA
May 7 - Central East Chapter Area 2 - St. Columban Church, Garden Grove, CA
May 8 - Southwest Chapter, Area 1, Holy Spirit Church, Fountain Valley, CA
May 8 - Southwest Chapter, Area 1 - Holy Spirit Church, Fountain Valley, CA
The pandemic times did not stop our FFRGOC members and board of directors and their friends to continue expressing their faith to Jesus through Mary through prayers and practice be it virtual and in person.
We thank Evelyn Ruiz for her leadership and coordination of these virtual prayers through Zoom guided by our President Debbie Gonzales and FFRGOC Board of Directors and officers and implemented by each Chapters and Areas and its members including Parishes members.
"Mabuhay tayong lahat"!
Conclusion:
It is our hope and desire that we provide you a dynamic and engaging website and hopefully we can influence you and your friends to be part of our faith and mission plus contribute voluntarily your talents, time, efforts and resources for the betterment of mankind.
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