Fiesta 2014

by Cayetana Maristela, Saint Joseph, Missouri Companion
fiesta in phillipinesAccording to the plaque on the church wall, Franciscan Missionaries first arrived in Pililla, Rizal, Philippines in 1572. By 1583, a stone church was built and dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene. Four hundred, thirty-one years later the Church is still going strong, giving God worship and praise.
When I arrived on the evening of July 12, I saw red and gold flags on bamboo poles tied to the house posts and banners strung across the streets decorating the town. A street fair was set up around the municipal hall with children’s rides, games, and food booths. The stage area was decorated for the nightly amateur shows. Fiesta activities officially began the next day with daily novena Masses at 6:00 p.m. Each afternoon, Philippine Independent Church representatives pushed a cart around town with a statue of St. Mary Magdalene. Band members played church songs inviting spectators to pray.
The next Saturday, members of the Mahigne family began deep cleaning their house in preparation for guests. This is a ritual in every home. Some went to the grocery store to stock up on ingredients for the multiple dishes for the fiesta. On Monday, the family began cooking from morning to night.
Early the next morning I was awakened at 5:00 a.m. by music. It was a band from one of the villages walking throughout town. The first Mass was at 5:30 a.m., followed by a procession. My cousin, Julie Ann, and I attended the 9:00 a.m. Mass presided by Bishop Gabriel Reyes with twelve priests concelebrating. The church was full and people stood at the back. During the sermon Bishop Reyes challenged the faithful to be evangelizers as St. Mary Magdalene was when she proclaimed, “I have seen the Lord.”
After the hour and a half Mass ended, the street dancing competition began. Despite several downpours—after all it’s the rainy season—the competition continued. Then came the baptism of at least 30 babies and young children. Again, the church was full with their parents and godparents.
Early in the afternoon, Julie Ann and I walked to relatives’ and friends’ houses—a most important tradition—wishing them happy fiesta. At each stop we were offered a variety of food and drink. To refuse would have been impolite, so I ate a sample every time.
My Aunt Alphonsa said, “When I think of fiesta, I am tired but happy because I will see family and friends I don’t see often. The food we cook will be eaten and people are happy.” Her favorite parts about the fiesta are the cooking, the meeting of guests, and the Parade of Bands. Julie Ann said, “Fiesta means praying, going to church. If you can’t go to church, just pray or light a candle at home.” Her favorite part is the procession and seeing the different images of St. Mary Magdalene. Another cousin, Marites, simply said, “The fiesta is part of our tradition. I enjoy the procession and being prayerful for the feast.”
I was still visiting homes during the third and last Mass of the day at 5:00 p.m. In the evening, the street fair continued as well. The fiesta continued the following day with the Parade of Bands.
Cateyana Maristela is spending a year‘s sabbatical on mission in her native Philippines. She will be sharing her journeys there over the course of this year.

Kneading Into Possibilities

by Sr. Donna Liette, C.PP.S., PBMR Staff Member
The doorbell rings, the door opens and a new face appears—the little you can see, as his dreadlocks hide a lot of his story. “I’m Michael,” he says.
“Your last name?”
“Brunner”…BRUNNER! Poor Michael did not know why Sister Carolyn and I got so excited. We began to tell him our story of Mother Brunner and I can only imagine he wondered who else works here!
Michael is one of the boys Mike Donovan referred to as “The Lost Boys of Chicago” (The New Wine Press, March 2014, pg. 7). Michael’s father died suddenly when he was three; his life changed and he lacked the things many of us take for granted: family vacations, table talk, faith, security, and hope for a future. So at an early age he began to search for meaning in his life. He took to the streets, made some bad choices, dropped out of school, saw friends shot and killed, had a brother in prison. Seeing the darkness ahead of him, like many of our “boys” he felt alone, doomed to face years in prison or death on the streets.
Mother Brunner or Father Brunner must have been watching out for Michael, because through some probation requirements he was sent to our Precious Blood Center. As soon as he mentioned he liked cooking and had enjoyed his culinary arts class, Father Dave assigned him to Sister Carolyn, and “Mother Brunner Hoying” took him under her wing, embraced him and immediately put him to work. Soon Michael was cutting onions and tomatoes, planning menus, and shopping for groceries. As staff we sneak into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee and are delighted to watch the transformation in young Brunner. He feels secure, responsible, he belongs. He drops his street persona and little by little tells his story, knowing he will not be judged. He smiles and offers hugs; he feels safe and accepted.
Two days ago we knew the PBMR kitchen had turned into the little Swiss chalet of Mother Brunner. Sister Carolyn had Michael kneading dough: “Michael, you need to use you the palm of your hand, like this.” And soon Michael is doing just that with great seriousness.
As I write this, it is Palm Sunday and I reflect on the similarities between Jesus and Michael: they stand alone, accused; they fall and they get up, stripped and shamed. Michael has had a difficult journey, broken and scared;we cannot help but weep for him. Michael lives on the edge, on the precipice of destruction. Will he be one of the many black youth locked up or one of the dead? We live in hope that he will not be either, but rather one of those with a future.
Sister Carolyn has been a life-giving presence for him, helping him carry the weight of his cross. As Michael tells of his journey while kneading dough, she is kneading Michael, working with his stories, folding in lots of affirmation and stretching him beyond his imagination. In between, they sauté vegetables and do the dishes.
Each day Sister Carolyn welcomes Michael after school with a big hug and often takes him home so he will not be harmed on the way. She leaves him saying, “Michael, may God bless your heart! See you tomorrow.”
Mother Brunner, hear our prayer! Do not let Michael be lost to the streets. May he experience his own coming out of the tomb—his Resurrection!