Cathedral to host Filipino Marian celebration

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SALT LAKE CITY – The Filipino Catholic community has a unique way to celebrate May, the month of devotions to Our Lady. Traditionally in the Philippines, Catholics celebrate Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May), a novena that culminates in the Santacruzan, a religious-historical beauty pageant which depicts the finding of the True Cross by Queen Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. This nine-day celebration started after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854.

In Salt Lake City, the Filipino community normally incorporates elements of the Santacruzan, where young people representing Queen Helena and other historical and scriptural characters participate in a procession prior to a Mass and a community gathering. The celebration is held every other year. This year, because of continued pandemic concerns, only a small celebration will be held at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in conjunction with the May 15 evening Mass. The celebration will be coordinated by Misang Bayan, the community that represents Filipinos in Utah.

Prior to the Mass, members of the Misang Bayan will lead a recitation of the rosary at 4:30 p.m. Then, just before the beginning of the Mass, five couples will process to the altar, carrying statues depicting different representations of the Virgin Mary, along with lighted candles and flowers to lay at the altar. The participants will sing “Dios Te Salve Maria,” (“God Save You, Mary”). The Mass will then be celebrated by Bishop Oscar A. Solis, who is a native of the Philippines.

Only a small contingent from the Misang Bayan will participate in the Mass this year, although many Filipinos will watch the livestreamed service from their homes, Misang Bayan Coordinator Marina Fernandez said.

“For me, I think it’s important to remind us of our Catholic faith and the richness of our Filipino culture so that we don’t forget,” Fernandez said. “During this pandemic, Mary should still be celebrated.”

The Santacruzan celebration and the Mass will be livestreamed at https://www.utcotm.org/