24 May 2016 – The officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Prague joined hundreds of Filipino migrants and other pilgrims in Prague to celebrate the feast day of the Infant Jesus of Prague with displays of prayer, piety and unity. The Infant Jesus of Prague is venerated by Filipino migrants all over the world. There were Filipino pilgrims from as far as Canada with the biggest group of Filipino pilgrims from the Czech Republic and neighboring Germany and Austria.
On May 1, 2016m, the first Sunday of this month, more than 300 Filipino Catholic migrants and other pilgrims congregated at the Church of Our Lady Victorious at Karmelitska, Malá Strana, home of the Infant Jesus of Prague, to attend a solemn Mass officiated by Fr. Agnello Rebello. The devotees also joined the procession of the statue of the Infant Jesus around Malá Strana, at 6:00 PM on Saturday, April 30, 2016 after the Spanish Mass.
Philippine Ambassador to Czech Republic Victoriano M. Lecaros noted that this year’s celebration fell on May 1, which also marks Labor day. He that that “the gathering of Filipino migrant communities, mostly migrant workers, from different parts of the world, is testimony to our solidarity as a people united in faith and love for God and country.”
Filipino-Canadian Susan Papas Hauck from Vancouver, Canada, who visits Prague every year for the past 18 years to celebrate the Feast of the Infant Jesus, said that “the Infant Jesus has performed various miracles as testified by many people who have been healed from their sickness”. Mrs. Hauck, has been promoting the devotion to the Infant Jesus of Prague to various places in the Philippines, Canada, Mexico, and Peru by bringing with her a replica of the Infant Jesus of Prague that were blessed at the Infant Jesus Shrine in Our Lady of Victorious Church.
After the Mass, devotees offered roses at the foot of the original statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague, which has been with the care of Carmelites since the 17th century since it was presented by a noble Princess from the Lobkowicz family.
The Philippine Embassy officers and staff offered flowers to the Infant Jesus of Prague and jointly hosted, with the Filipino Choir, a lunch get-together of the Filipino community and other pilgrims at the gardens of the Our Lady of Victorious Church after the Mass. END