FFRGOC, as an organization, is so in tune to our devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and we do our best to follow and love Jesus through her mother Mary. To honor our Blessed Virgin Mary, we celebrate Pista ni Maria translated to Feast of Mary on a yearly basis. For 2022, the event was held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Placentia, Ca last May 7, 2022.
Preparations complete to the smallest detail were done by the committee formed for the occasion under the able leadership of our President Helen Alonso supported by the Board of Directors. Hermana mayors who are local parishioners were also identified as Evelyn Ruiz, FFRGOC Northeast Chapter Director and Cleo Barreto, chairman of FFRGOC Northeast Area 7 who completed the event with aplomb.
Evelyn Ruiz and Cleo Barreto getting ready with the Blessed Virgin Mary
Cleo Barreto and Evelyn Ruiz, Pista ni Maria Hermana Mayors working on the details
We started the event with the registration process making sure we have the contact information following the COVID19 guidelines plus a historical record of attendance and at the same time flyers were given for the next event , FFRGOC picnic in Laguna Niguel, Ca.
Our President Helen Alonso registered with the volunteers who worked with their assigned sheet of attendees classified by letters in alphabetical order. (Picture courtesy of Jonathan Alonso)
Happy faces of attendees in the registration process with Mary Ann Puzon, Social Director (Photo courtesy of Jonathan Alonso)
Our happy volunteers on the registration table with Mary Ann Puzon, Social Activities and Cora Biglang-Awa, Assistant Treasurer (Photo courtesy of Jonathan Alonso)
Lorraine Betts, Director of Youth with Beth Ynson, South Area 2 Secretary ready to distribute the program to registrants
Early registrants while attendees read the program for the day
Registration
FFRGOC events like Pista ni Maria bring old friends/officers together and also meet new friends in the process with the common goal of praying the rosary and attending holy mass and strengthening our faith and have a better life serving Jesus through Mary. Below pictures capture them all.
Prior Presidents Lino Aldana now Advisor and Eli Ruiz now Seminarian Program Director were happy to be together again (Photo courtesy of Jonathan Alonso)
Glenn Puzon, our 2nd VP with Cleo Barreto, Hermana Mayor who usually do not see each other a lot (Photo courtesy of Jonathan Alonso)
I love this picture ... President Helen Alonzo was very happy to see Lynn Maglalang and hugging her with gusto while Vita Valentin was beaming with a big smile (Photo courtesy of Jonathan Alonso)
Our Board of Directors, Helen Alonso, Sol Sollorano, Boots Mercado and Cora Narciso, South Area 1 Chairperson with other FFRGOC members and officers (Photo courtesy of Jonathan Alonzo)
Old friends, new friends bonding before the procession
President Helen bonding with Cleo, our Hermana Mayor and members of FFRGOC
Eddie Hegera, the man behind the great "sumans" that Nenita Miyata brings to our events which are so yummy. Thank you Eddie and Nenita.
FFRGOC Youth of different ages who will be our future leaders/members of FFRGOC
Members/Officers among friends
Celebrants, Father Juan Caboboy, FFRGOC Spiritual Director and Father Miguel Hernandez, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church led the prayers
Praying the rosary as led by Walter Bayubay, Director of Religious Enrichment
Walter Bayubay, Director of Religious Enrichment led the rosary and each area of each chapter were involved in reciting the different decades of the rosary. Rica Werner, Southwest Chapter Director is seen above praying the rosary with the other members of the chapter.
The choir singing in between the prayers of the different decades of the rosary who sang beautiful songs both in English and Tagalog, Filipino national dialect.
The choir singing in between prayers
Nenita Miyata, Public Relations Officer with Carmi Costa and Minda Aldana with old and new friends getting ready for the procession (Photo courtesy of Jonathan Alonso)
Getting ready for the procession
Procession to the church in preparation for the Holy Mass headed by the celebrants (priests) followed by the Blessed Virgin Mary carosa and followed by flower offerings by people and the rest of the attendees.
Procession video
The flower offering headed by Rene Sollorano and Emma Firme and the choir behind them including me who took some pictures for our website.
Blessed Virgin Mary Carosa entering the church for the Holy Mass celebration
Procession inside the church in preparation for the Holy Mass with the FFRGOC choir singing Filipino song
Our future members/officers FFRGOC Youth entering the church to offer flowers
Inside the church where Father Caboboy, our Spiritual Director led us in prayers
Father Miguel Hernandez, Pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Placentia , Ca led us in prayers
Pista ni Maria event was so succesful with a lot of attendees
More attendees
FFRGOC Choir in action to the delight of attendees
Attendees actively praying
Attendees actively singing
FFRGOC's pride and joy, our choir who are so talented and being in front taking pictures I was in awe listening to Mary Ann Puzon, our Social Director who has an incredible voice plus all of them are very good.
FFRGOC choir in their beautiful ternos and barongs headed by Glenn Puzon, President and FFRGOC Vice President
B. Delfin, Secretary and Web Coordinator respects and supports these ladies, Debbie Gonzales, past President and Helen Alonso, current President with our Blessed Virgin Mary in her carosa.
The center of our devotion, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus in her beautiful carosa and all the flower offerings
After Mass, boxed lunches with water and desserts compliments of FFRGOC were distributed by the Board of Directors, Nenita, Eli, Evelyn, Lorraine, Mary Ann Puzon, Debbie and Benita.
Everyone enjoying boxed lunches
Our attendees were looking forward to eating the yummy boxed lunches
Our President Helen enjoying lunch with friends
FFRGOC was honored to have a guest, Israel Claustro, the new Orange County Superior Court Judge with her spouse who are devout Catholics and attended the event with FFRGOC Board of Directors and members as invited by Ernie Delfin, an active Rotarian
Everyone went home happy and enjoyed the camaraderie and food after a day of prayer and fun.
Thank you for reading our blog and follow us on our future events.
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