Flores de Mayo in Rehovot and elsewhere

The feast of Flores de Mayo is celebrated during the month of May, a month devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The feast is an occasion to express love and respect for the mother of Christ and this year the feast was marked on the Feast of the Ascension (celebrated in many parishes at the Sunday mass after the feast).

In Rehovot, the celebration began in the central park of the city as members of the Saint Therese de Lisieux community gathered for the traditional procession. What marks this community is that although it is a Filipino founded community, over the years many non-Filipinos have flocked to it – other migrant workers from Asia and Africa and overseas students from the academic institutions in the town. Particularly noteworthy this year was the participation of the non-Filipinos in this Filipino feast. Two of the ten women, beautifully clad and representing some of the traditional titles of Mary, were African students this year.

After the procession down the main street of Rehovot, attracting many curious Rehovot residents, who rarely realize that the caregivers and other migrants in the city come together as a Catholic community, the crowd gathered in the large tent that serves as the community’s home. The tent that can accommodate up to eighty people was overflowing with believers.

The mass was celebrated by Latin Patriarchal Vicar, Rev. David Neuhaus, who underlined the strong connection between the Feast of the Ascension, marked in parishes this Sunday, and the figure of Our Lady the Blessed Virgin Mary. “As Christ ascends into heaven, we the members of his body are called to continue of mission, teaching, healing and loving. We must realize, that as his body, we have our origin in Mary’s definitive yes to God. She is our model in being his disciples in the world”.

At the end of the mass, the celebration continued with the presentation of the different titles of Mary, each one represented by a beautifully dressed woman. The Salesian seminarians, who serve in the community, explained each title – Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady Help of Christians and many others… Father Matthew Coutinho, the chaplain of the community, presented the new Queen Helena with her crown. Queen Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, is credited with founding the Cross of Christ, when she initiated the works that led to the construction of the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem. Her figure, represented by a royally vested Filipina, brings the procession to a close and she is always accompanied by a younger child who is dressed as her son, Constantine. The celebration, that included prayer and inspirational talks, was concluded with a dance performed by one of the members of the parish community.

As always, the evening continued with a sumptuous meal.

This feast was also celebrated in many other communities where Filipinos gather throughout Israel. These communities include Good Shepherd and Saint Lorenzo Ruiz communities in Jerusalem, Holy Family community in Nazareth, Saint Joseph community in Haifa, Saint Anthony community in Jaffa, Saint Peter community in Tiberias and in the area of the Sea off Galilee and the biggest of these communities, the Divine Mercy community in Our Lady Woman of Valor Church in south Tel Aviv.