OUR LADY OF FATIMA PART II

Initially, it started with a short procession, without the Holy Mass, attended by some relatives and neighbors, with the Image of our Lady of Fatima being carried. As the year progresses it had been placed on top of an private jeepney or on top of a car. There was even a year when it was placed on a cart used for lechon delivery, with proper ornaments and decorations. The cart had been decorated with fresh flowers. At present it has its own cart. We call it “Karo”. Every year a group from Las Pinas will arrive early in the morning every first Saturday of each year to fill the cart with fresh flowers. In the evening, the cart will be filled with lights as well. Neighbors would always bring their own images and would include these images during the procession.

On the third year, however, it was decided to celebrate the Holy Mass before the procession started, being celebrated by a priest from different parish. The mass celebration have the blessing of the Lourdes Parish Church. It has been the procedure for street mass. This will also ensure that we will be getting a legitimate priest. As the year passes, participants grew in numbers. The whole project had been financed by the Aguas Family, without any solicitation or monetary contribution from any one. Any financial assistance had been courteously declined to avoid any impression that the occasion is used for money-making project. There had been contributions of course. These contributions are in the form of candles for the procession, flowers they gave to the image and time and effort for the occasion. My father used to say one of his children will inherit these practice. I can not really say at this stage who among us will continue this tradition. Personally I don’t think I am qualified. For one, I am not as a traditional religious practitioner per se as my father is. In fact, I am otherwise. He never misses a Sunday mass. Not ever. I can not recall him missing a mass, in fact. It had been a successful project though and I think my father will carry on for as long as he possibly could.