Tagaytay City—The SVD Laudato Si’ Farm held a heartwarming belated celebration of All Saints' Day last November 5, 2023, during its first-ever Parade of the Saints.
The event brought together around 100 attendees, many of whom came to celebrate their favorite saints in a remarkable way. Adults, dubbed “life-size saints,” and children, dubbed “little saints,” honored their chosen saints through creative costumes.
Earlier during the week, last November 1 and 2, 2023, the Holy Mass was celebrated at the SVD Farm’s Chapel of the Virgin of the Poor at 3:00 PM to celebrate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
Last November 5, 2023, following the afternoon Sunday Holy Mass at the Chapel, the festivities for the Parade of the Saints began. Attendees convened at the St. Peter Fishpond and Gazebo at around 4:00 PM, where they had the chance to take photos with the life-size and little saints, adding a touch of creativity to the event.
Attendees included members of various communities and the general public, SVD Tagaytay scholastics and priests, SVD Farm management and staff, including servers and farmers, residents of Brgy. Mag-asawang Ilat and Brgy. San Jose, nuns from the Order of Augustinian Recollects, among others.
The event began with the introduction by host Rev. Karl Cabanalan, who warmly welcomed the attendees. This was followed by a heartfelt message from Rev. Fr. Stanislav "Stan" Orečný, SVD, who serves as the Chaplain of the Chapel of the Virgin of the Poor at the SVD Farm.
In his message, Fr. Orečný expressed his hope that the Parade of the Saints would serve as an inspiration for all attendees, “living saints,” to pursue lives of holiness in their everyday moments. “I believe that this Parade of the Saints will become an inspiration for us to live and strive for sainthood everyday, every moment of our lives. We hope to see our children, our little saints, become inspired to proceed towards lives of holiness,” he said.
The event continued with a Liturgy of the Word and a blessing of the attendees by Fr. Orečný, reinforcing the spiritual significance of the day.
The highlight of the celebration was the Parade of the Saints itself, which started at the St. Peter Fishpond and Gazebo and wound its way through various landmarks on the SVD Farm.
During the parade, various members of the SVD Tagaytay and SVD Farm community held placards representing various saints significant to them, including Mary Virgin of the Poor, St. Isidore the Laborer and St. Maria Torribia, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Peter, St. Raphael, St. Martin de Porres, St. Arnold Janssen, SVD, St. Joseph Freinademetz, SVD, Bl. Maria Stollenwerk, SSpS, Bl. Josepha Stenmanns, SSpS, Bl. Louis Mzyk, Bl. Stanislaus Kubista, Bl. Aloysius Liguda, Bl. Gregory Frackowiak, St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John.
The aforementioned saints were represented in the costumes worn by the attendees. Moreover, other saints were also honored through the registered participants’ costumes, including Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. John of God, St. Rita of Cascia, San Pedro Calungsod, St. Agnes (Santa Inés), St. Monica, St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. Maria Goretti, St. Anne, St. Paul, St. Joseph, as well as various angels.
The Parade of the Saints concluded at the Grotto of the Virgin of the Poor, where attendees gathered in front of the statue of the SVD Farm's patroness to offer a short prayer dedicated to the holy men and women of the Catholic Church.
The event culminated with an awarding ceremony that recognized attendees for their outstanding saint costumes.
The winners for the life-size saints were Beth Miranda as San Pedro Calungsod, Nita Poblete as Our Lady of the Poor, Juvy General as St. Rita of Cascia, and Hannah Abalos as Mama Mary in the adult category. For the little saints, Jairuz Sebastian V. Villarmino took first place as San Isidro Labrador, followed by Lucas Eli Batitag as St. Joseph in second place, and Jaelle Cryzhayley Velasa as an angel in third place. All winners received potted herbs from the Gulayan ni San Rafael, and all registered participants were given loot bags filled with various treats.
The Parade of the Saints at the SVD Farm was a heartwarming and memorable celebration that not only honored the rich tradition of saints in the Catholic faith but also promoted unity and spirituality among the attendees. It left a lasting impression on all those who participated, inspiring them to strive for sainthood in their everyday lives.
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For reservations and other information, including ways to support and connect with the SVD Farm, contact us through:
📞 0905-106-5499
📧 contact@svdlaudatosifarmfoundation.org.