Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu held the traditional Santacruzan yesterday, May 27. Early in the morning, the participants of Santacruzan 2018 gathered in the house of Hermana Mayor along Daangbakal to pray the Holy Rosary. From there, they participated the procession going to the parish with the image of Our Lady of Aranzazu.
The procession arrived at the parish at around 9 in the morning where parish priest, Rev. Fr. Bembol Hiteroza presided the thanksgiving mass. In his homily, Fr. Bembol shared a story about the child who asked the Pope, “Ano po ang ginawa ng Diyos bago niya gibain ang sanlibutan?” Pope answered, “God is always busy loving.” Meaning to say, God never stops loving us; God is always in action. He never leaves us behind because we are important and precious in His eyes. Remember that at the end, God will always be at our side.
Also, he quoted Raphael Simon saying, “To fall in love with God is the greatest among romances; to seek Him is the greatest adventure; to find Him is the greatest human achievement.” If we found God, we don’t have to look for anything else.
Fr. Bembol also recalled the message during the Pentecost Sunday, “every human being in this world has differences but despite of those dissimilarities and inequalities, we can still be united as one just like what happen on the day of Pentecost, “Then there appeared to them forked tongues as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.” (Acts 2:3-6) With this language, we are expected to be an instrument to proclaim the good news to everyone.
At the end of the mass, certificates of appreciation were given to Hermana Mayor of Flores de Mayo, Ms. Bianca dela Peña, Hermana Mayor of Santacruzan, Ms. Ma. Therese Marie Linco, and Hermana Mayor of Thanksgiving Mass, Ms. Giorgia Denise Danga.
Later in the afternoon, the traditional Santacruzang Bayan was held where many young ladies dress up in a procession and re-enact the finding of True Cross.
Read: The Reinas of Flores de Mayo and their representations
After the procession, the Hermana Mayor turned over her duty to the Hermana Menor and they offered a flower and their symbols to Aranzazu together with the Sagalas.
Lester de Castro
Writer, Website Team - Media Ministry
To those who know him, no words are required. To those who do not, no words will suffice. Lester R. de Castro is a “scholar ng bayan” at Polytechnic University of the Philippines taking up Accountancy, Business, and Management. Lester belongs to his batches’ "Cream of the Crop" dominating to a remarkable vision of the future. Currently, as a website writer of DSPNSDA’s Media and Public Information Ministry, the talents and skills he received from the Almighty above are being used and shared not only for his own good but for the good of others as well. He believes that in life, God must be the center who guides us towards the right path.
