Over the month of May, Filipino parishioners from St Joseph’s, Cobram and St Mary’s, Echuca celebrated two of their traditional religious festivals, sharing their vibrant culture and unique style of devotion with their fellow parishioners.

‘Flores de Mayo’ (Flowers of May), is a month-long festival honouring Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Devotees gather to pray the Rosary and offer flowers to the Blessed Virgin. It culminates with a Santacruzan (Holy Cross procession).

Fr Junjun Amaya, Parish Priest of Cobram, said Filipinos like to celebrate their faith, not only with Mass, but also with other faith traditions. This was the first time Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan have been celebrated in Cobram, and Fr Junjun said he has been amazed by its impact.

“I think it’s a way of living synodally,” said Fr Junjun. “When we celebrate such festivals, we encourage each other to share love and friendship in a concrete way, allowing everyone to grow in their faith. It also reflects the reality that our parishes in Sandhurst are now culturally diverse. It’s good to acknowledge the culture of people who are contributing to our community, and the more they are acknowledged, the more they can contribute to parish life.”

Fr Junjun said he was encouraged by the number of people from non-Filipino backgrounds who had stayed behind after Mass to participate in the Santacruzan and share in the celebratory lunch afterwards.

“I discovered that many parishioners, especially those with an Italian background, really love and appreciate the devotions to Our Lady; there were some very emotional responses on the day,” he said.

It’s a positive sign of the times that migrants to Australia now have the opportunity to practise their religious devotions and traditions; a long stretch from the promotion of assimilation which was common in the past.

For Filipinos living and working in regional Victoria, far from home, celebrating these Festivals provides a sense of familiarity and belonging; a way to stay connected to their roots; and pass on their traditions to the next generation.

“These festivals help Filipinos to feel a sense of ‘home’ and they also provide a wonderful opportunity for all people in our parish to support new Filipino parishioners in their new life in Australia,” said Fr Junjun. “We need to make opportunities for all of our parishioners to learn more about each other to create a sense of unity. We need to share joy.”

Two Feasts:

In the Filipino way of brightening solemn events the two feasts Of Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan were merged to form what is now known as the 'Queen of Filipino Feasts'.

Flores de Mayo is a custom which originated in the Philippines and has been practised since the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception by Pope Pius IX in 1854.

Santacruzan (from the Spanish ‘Santa Cruz’) was introduced to the Philippines by the Spanish and is preceded by a nine-day Novena which runs parallel to the Flores de Mayo. Santacruzan has a different theological theme from Flores de Mayo, as it recounts Queen Helena’s discovery of the ‘true cross’ (the cross on which Jesus was crucified) while she was on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 326 AD.

The Santacruzan procession is distinct because, rather than carrying icons or symbols, women dress as important female characters from the scriptures and form the procession as they carry flowers to the altar. Women dressed as Queen Esther Veronica, Mary Magdalene, and the variations of Our Lady, such as “Reina de la Paz” (Queen of Peace), “Reina Abogada” (Defender of the Poor) process with young children dressed as angels. Finally, Queen Helena (Reina Elena).

These feasts highlight the role of women in the Church and are a powerful witness to the many women depicted in the Scriptures who give us wonderful examples of God’s love.

*Queen Helena was the mother of Constantine, the emperor of Rome who was influential in promulgating the Edict of Milan. It was this proclamation that declared religious tolerance for Christianity in the Roman Empire. Constantine later converted to Christianity, becoming the first Christian Roman Emperor.

Above: Members of the Cobram and Yarrawonga parishes who processed in the Santacruzan at St Joseph's Cobram on Sunday 2 June.

Top: Participants in the Santacruzan at St Mary's, Echuca after Mass on Sunday 2 June.