Celebrating St. Lorenzo Ruiz!

There are a lot of Filipinos here in Hawaii ... and fortunately, we've brought with us many of our traditions, including our love for great get-togethers and food ... and for us Filipino Catholics, also our strong devotion to the Blessed Mother and Saints, and their Fiestas!  In particular, we have a warm place in our hearts for St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the first-ever Filipino proclaimed a Saint ... and whose Feast Day is observed on September 28th.  So it's been a very busy last few days with us local Filipinos at two parishes I'm closely associated with:

ST. GEORGE CHURCH, WAIMANALO

For about 5 years now, a dedicated Filipino community at this parish has been conducting an annual novena to St. Lorenzo, leading up to his Feast Day when they throw a big party honoring the Saint.  This year, though, they held their celebration the day before the Feast (9/27) and it was just as festive as prior years!

A beautiful statue of St. Lorenzo Ruiz in the

St. George Parish's "Garden of Hope".

But what made this year's event extra-special was the attendance of Mrs. Corazon Abad, the mother of the Niña Ruiz Abad, a young Filipina being investigated for possible Sainthood by the Diocese of Laoag in the Philippines.  Mrs. Abad happened to be staying with friends in Waimanalo so the Pastor—Fr. Raymund Ellorin—invited her to join in the celebration at which she gave a glowing testimonial about her daughter's virtuous life.  It was beautiful and inspiring to hear.

Mrs. Corazon Abad speaking passionately about her

daughter - the Servant of God, Niña Ruiz Abad.

... and the party after was a blast with tons of local and Filipino foods and desserts (e.g. Pansit, Lumpia, Chicken Adobo, Pinakbet, Pork Guisantes, Puto, Biko, etc.), live entertainment, and great fellowship with my friends at St. George Church.  The only downside was I left the place stuffed!

 

My first plate.

ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA CHURCH, KAILUA

While St. George was having their 9-day novena, my home-parish in Kailua simultaneously held its first-ever Triduum to St. Lorenzo.  Although the Filipino community in St. Anthony's is not as large as that in Waimanalo, we managed to have a meaningful three days of prayer that culminated on the actual Feast Day of St. Lorenzo with a Mass, a presentation on the life of St. Lorenzo (conducted by this ministry), and a potluck dinner that was well-attended not just by our Filipino parishioners but by other people, as well.

 

ABOVE: This ministry's "Memorial Stones" of St. Lorenzo

and St. Pedro Calungsod, taken from their actual

sites of Martyrdom.

BELOW: Note the Holy Face of Christ that was visible on

our parish's crucifix during Sunday's St. Lorenzo Prayers.

   

My parish's potluck dinner was also loaded with tasty foods, including a whole roasted pig (Lechon)!  All in all, for our first-time Fiesta for St. Lorenzo Ruiz, it was a fantastic celebration.  One, which I hope will grow into another longstanding parish tradition.  Again, the only downside of tonight's events was I left the church too stuffed!

St. Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us!