FFlloorreess ddee MMaayyoo Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Flores de Mayo is the Filipino variety of spring flower festivals celebrated in many Asian countries. In the , the festival is month-long Catholic celebration held in honor of the Virgin Mary. It is held in May, the beginning of the rainy season. After a long dry spell, flowers bloom overnight, the landscape bursts with tropical flowers, their fragrance filling the air. Catholic Filipinos celebrate the coming of the rains by giving praise to God and offering devotion to the Blessed Virgin. The celebration features nine days of praying the in honor of the Virgin Mary, donations of flowers from parishioners’ gardens, participation from children and youth dressed in white (symbolizing the desire to imitate our Blessed Mother’s purity of heart), traditional hymns, and flower offerings to the Blessed Mother.

The Filipino Ministry of the Holy Name of Jesus Parish invites you to join us in praying the rosary for a nine-day , from April 29th to May 7th, 2016. On the final evening of the Novena, we will pray the rosary as we process around the church with candles at our Olive Avenue location, and celebrate afterwards with cultural foods provided by the Filipino Ministry. On this evening (May 7th), we have a and flower offerings, wearing white to symbolize the desire to imitate the Virgin’s purity of heart. All parishioners are encouraged to participate in the prayer and with flower offerings to honor our Blessed Mother during the month when we honor all mothers. Schedule of Rosary Novena for our Blessed Virgin Mary Date Time Location Ministry Sponsor (Hermana) Friday, 4/29 7:00 p.m. Columbia Cursillos in Christianity Saturday, 4/30 6:00 p.m. Olive (after the 4:30 mass) Sunday,5/1 7:00 p.m. Olive (after the 5:30 mass) Monday, 5/2 7:00 p.m. Columbia Tuesday, 5/3 7:00 p.m. Columbia Youth Ministry Wednesday,5/4 7:00 p.m. Olive Sacred Heart Academy Thursday, 5/5 7:00 p.m. Columbia Knights of Columbus Friday,5/6 7:00 p.m. Columbia Saturday, May 7* 4:30 p.m. mass Olive Filipino Ministry (rehearsal @3:30 p.m.) *ending with the Novena procession with candles around the church ------Thank you for participating in the Flores de Mayo tradition from the Philippines. If you would like to participate, please return the bottom portion of this form to the parish office a.s.a.p. For more information, please call Evelyn Alms (909) 793-3001, [email protected] or Socorro Ramirez (909)792*5933, [email protected]

Yes, I would like to donate fresh-cut flowers for participants to offer to Mary on (date) Yes, I would like to participate in the Flores de Mayo procession on May 7th.

Female Flower Bearer (Sagala) Age Male Escort (Konsorte) Age Parent or Guardians Home Phone # Cell Phone # E-mail: ______

To participate, please turn in this form to the parish office The Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church 115 W. Olive Ave & 1205 Columbia St, Redlands 909-793-2469 www.theholynameofjesus.org