Page 4 - 2017 JAN-JUN - KAAKBAY

4 January to June
2017

Filipinos Commemorate the Feast of the Black Nazarene in New York

The Filipino Pastoral Community of Our Lady of Pompei
Church in downtown Manhattan together with the Boston Friends
and Devotees of Poong Hesus Nazareno, and the Hermanas
and Hermanos held a solemn mass to commemorate the Feast
of the Black Nazarene on 08 January 2017.

The High Mass which also doubled as a celebration of
the Feast of the Epiphany was concelebrated by Fr. Walter
Tonelotto, Pastor of Our Lady of Pompei and Fr. Jonathan
Loverita, a priest from Samar and currently the Parochial Vicar of
the parish.

As part of its on-going parish and faith-based community
outreach and information drive program, the Philippine Consulate Fr. Jonathan Loveriza, Parochial Vicar and Director of the Filipino Pastoral
General represented by Consul General Theresa Dizon-de Vega Ministry of Our of Lady of Pompei Church in New York City with members of
and PAGIBIG Fund New York Officer Michael Azucena took part the Pastoral Group, Boston Friends and Devotees of the Poong Hesus
in the event. Nazareno and Hermanos, Hermanas of the event (photo courtesy of Ms.
Nancy Hombrebueno)
Fr. Tonelotto in his homily noted that the Feast of the
Epiphany is essentially also the story of the Migrant Filipino Aside from the Mass, the Filipino Community
Community who like the Magi went on a journey in search of a members, many of whom are devotees of the Black
better life for themselves and their families. Nazarene took part in procession featuring an image
of the Black Nazarene which is enshrined in the Our
Echoing the statements of Fr. Tonelotto, Consul General Lady of Pompei Church.
De Vega also spoke about how the Consulate is working closely
and connecting with various faith-based organizations in the US The New York event took place close to the
Northeast in ensuring that the government is ready to assist date of the commemoration of the Feast of the Black
Filipinos in their respective journeys in the US Northeast. Nazarene in Manila which attracts over a million
devotees annually.
Filipinos in the US Northeast Commemorate Sto. Niño Feast

Filipino-American communities across the US Northeast
region joined their fellow Filipinos in the Philippines and around
the world in commemorating the Feast of the Sto. Niño, one of the
Philippines’ enduring faith-based festivals.

In New York, Consul General Theresa Dizon-de Vega
joined the Sto. Niño Prayer Group of Suffolk County at St. Anne’s
th
Church in Brentwood, New York for its 34 commemoration of the
Infant Jesus’ Feast day on 15 January 2017. The rosary,
procession, mass and fellowship was the culmination of a novena
which saw the image of the Sto. Niño being hosted by different
Consul Dizon-De Vega with members of the Sto. Niño Prayer Group of Filipino-American families.
Suffolk County and other guests (photo by NYPCG)
According to the Prayer Group’s current Chairperson,
Cynthia P. Marcelo, the devotion to the Sto. Niño contributes to a stronger sense of community among Filipinos in Suffolk
County. Over 150 Filipinos gathered for the day’s worship activities and program.

During the fellowship program,
Consul General De Vega encouraged
the organization to continue to
encourage greater community interaction
through parish-based activities and to be
more engaged in Consulate-led events.
She likewise conducted a consular
outreach by responding to queries on
Filipino community members join in consular matters from attendees as well
Cynthia Marcelo (left) with other members of the Sto. Niño Prayer Group; the celebration of mass at St. as providing consular forms to interested
Consul General De Vega responds to dual citizenship queries from a Henry’s Church, Bayonne, NJ community members.