By Cheryl Sevegan
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With the theme: “Kasama ni San Lorenzo, Pag-alabin natin ang ating Pananampalataya kay Kristo,” which translated into English means: “Together with St. Lorenzo Ruiz, Let our Faith in Christ be Inflamed.”
The Feast Day of St. Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila here in Jerusalem were comfortably celebrated last Sept. 29, 2013 at Ratisbonne Compound Jerusalem, Israel.
The celebration highlighted the influence of our Patron’s everlasting humility as God’s servant and also his influence as effectively manifested in the transformation and conversion of communities of Filipino Migrant Workers as Witnesses to the Catholic Faith particularly in this part of Israel.
Our Chaplain, Fr. David Neuhaus SJ, celebrated the Holy Mass, concelebrated together by our SLRC Priest-in-Charge, Fr. James Oclarit CP, SDB and Deacon Rj Undar. The celebration was participated by different communities.
The program embarked immediately right after the Holy Mass with an invocation prayer by Fr. James Oclarit. The singing of the National Anthem was led by the Vice Coordinator, Ms. Astrid Dajay. Ms. Flor Arcilla, SLRC Coordinator, warmly welcomed everyone in the festivity with her gentleness and sweet smile.
An NGO officer in Jerusalem, Ms. Rowena Ramos and Mr. Rommel Romero, Vice President of JFC and Sports Committee Chairman, served as emcees. Many communities showed support with their presence, participating in the program by giving intermission numbers. Some of which are Cultural Folk Dances, Rock and Roll Dances, and songs. The mothers wowed the crowd in a Hippie Dance number with the title: “I Will Follow Him,” with a surprise participation of Sr. Aurelia Narag (SLRC adviser), while the SLRC kids showed their talents with a medley dance number.
The Philippine Embassy staff graced the event headed by HE Ambassador Generoso D.G. Calonge, Labor Attaché Atty. Jaime Gimenez, and Cultural Attaché Tess Reyes. Ambassador Calonge updated everyone about the embassy advisory while delivering his inspirational message to all.
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Parlor games for everybody came after the end of the program. Different scrumptious Filipino foods were served ala-buffet to everyone’s delight, some of which came from different communities. The love, humility, generosity, kindness and unity of everyone especially the Filipinos here in Israel were the reasons for the celebration’s success.
Thanks God for everything and for bringing us here in the Holy Land where we have the freedom to celebrate this kind of feast, also to the people of Israel for respecting our beliefs, allowing us to exercise our faiths, tradition and culture, and for giving us opportunities to work here.
San Lorenzo Ruiz Community and its officers would like to express its appreciation and gratitude to the following performers:
St. Francis Choir (St. Anthony, Tel-Aviv) – Medley of Paru-Parong Bukid and Subli
PICAA-NGO – Ang Pilipina Noon at Ngayon
OLPHA – Pandanggo sa Ilaw
DMC-Tel-Aviv – Jail House Rock.
CFC – Sayaw sa Cuyo
GSFCC – Folk dance Binatbatan
EL SHADDAI Jerusalem Cell Group – Folk dance Binislakan
Joshua and Zha-Zha – Folk dance Tiklos
JFC – “Alleluia” song number
SLRC Mother’s with Sr. Aurelia Narag – dance number “I Will Follow Him”
SLRC – Folk dance Subli
Faith Rosario – Dance with my Father Again song number
Fr. James Oclarit – medley song number
Rico Raguin of St. Francis Choir – song number
SLRC Kids – medley dance number
Arnold Lumamba of SLRC – song number
In behalf of San Lorenzo Ruiz Community-Jerusalem, the beauteous inside and out SLRC-Jerusalem coordinator, Ms. Flor Arcilla, would like to convey her highest and sincerest appreciation to each and everyone who helped and participated, and to all the communities for sharing their time and partaking in the San Lorenzo Ruiz’s Feast and Family Day.
She added that without their help and participation, they won’t be able to make the Feast Day successful and alive. Lastly, she closed with an encouragement to everyone, “Let us continue supporting each other in any way we can. May all our efforts be blessed by the Lord. God bless us all!”