01 February 2014 - The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney, led by Consul General Anne Jalando-on Louis joined the Filipino community in New South Wales (NSW) in two events commemorating the feast of the Sto. Niño on January 19.
A mass in honor of the Holy Infant Jesus was organized by the Sto. Niño Association of Macarthur Region and held at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with His Grace Peter Ingham, Bishop of Wollongong, as main celebrant, and Fr. Michael Healey as concelebrant. The mass was followed by a procession of the image of the Sto. Niño, a fellowship lunch and cultural presentations. During the event, the organizers also held a raffle for the benefit of the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in the Philippines. The event marks the 17th year that the association has organized these activities and around 500 people took part in the festivities.
Later in the day, Consul General Louis attended the mass and the Sinulog Festival at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Plumpton, Blacktown City, NSW organised by the Cofradia de Sto. Niño. The main celebrant was Filipino priest Fr. John Paul Escarlan, with 8 other Filipino and Australian priests as concelebrants. The mass and Sinulog festival was attended by more than 1,000 people.
In both events, the Australian officials who joined the festivities acknowledged the contribution of the Filipino community to Australian society through their deep faith and colorful cultural tradition.
Consul General Louis congratulated the Sto. Niño Association of Macarthur Region and the Cofradia de Sto. Niño for their efforts in keeping the tradition of commemorating the Feast of the Sto. Niño alive, noting that this devotion helps keep Filipino families and communities together. She also thanked Bishop Ingham and the Australian and Filipino priests for their continued support and guidance to the Filipino community. She encouraged the Filipino community members to continue to pray for and to support the rehabilitation efforts for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
Another Filipino community organization in NSW that commemorated the Feast of the Sto. Niño is the Central Coast Sinulog Señor Sto. Niño (CC3S) which organized a Mass and Sinulog program on 12 January 2013. The Filipiniana Friends Group Bathurst and Central West, through its President, Nenita Weekes, also informed the Consulate that the group will hold a Thanksgiving Mass and Sinulog Festival in Bathurst (3-hour drive from Sydney) on 26 January 2014. END