The weather was windy and cold, but that didn’t deter about 70 people who gathered May 31 at Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Euclid for the first Asian Catholic Family Day celebration. The event is one of several presented during the Jubilee Year of Hope. The shrine is one of the sacred sites in the Diocese of Cleveland.
Lynette Cisneros, assistant director of Parish Life and Special Ministries, said the event took place during Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which is observed during May. The special month recognizes the contributions of the Asian and Pacific Islanders in the United States. Those recognized include from the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, which encompasses about two dozen islands, including the Hawaiian Islands. The observance began as a weeklong celebration established in 1977 by Congress. It was expanded to a monthlong celebration in 1990.
The theme of this year’s heritage month was “A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience.”
The Asian Ministry and the Filipino community in the diocese helped coordinate the Family Day event, which included the traditional Filipino Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May) celebration. Flores de Mayo is a monthlong celebration in honor of the Blessed Mother. It includes daily prayers, floral offerings to the Blessed Mother, processions and community events.
Pilgrims who participated in the diocesan celebration began with prayer, reciting the rosary (joyful mysteries) in the chapel. After the rosary and recitation of the Jubilee Prayer, the faithful processed from the chapel to the grotto while singing songs in honor of the Blessed Virgin. They placed flowers near her statue at the grotto.
After brief prayers and posing for a group photo, they moved into the St. Ann Dining Room for a potluck lunch.
A variety of Filipino and other foods were featured. One of the more popular dishes was chicken adobo, a traditional Filipino dish. Rice, soup, salads, vegetables, crackers, cheese, eggs and fresh fruit – including mango, the national fruit of the Philippines – filled the buffet table.
“I am so happy with the turnout,” Cisneros said. She noted that several families and those of other heritages attended the event and seemed to enjoy it. Cisneros said she hopes the celebration will become an annual event.
Click here to learn more about the Asian Ministry in the diocese. Its next scheduled event is the annual Asian Mass, which is celebrated in early October.