CAMDEN – “Viva! Viva Señor Santo Niño!”
These cheers honoring the Child Jesus filled the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception as hundreds of faithful from South Jersey’s Filipino community gathered for Mass on Jan. 14 to celebrate the annual Sinulog-Santo Niño festival, which commemorates the Filipino people’s acceptance of Christianity in the 1500s.
Celebrated by Bishop-elect Efren Esmilla of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Mass marked 15 years since the Santo Niño was enshrined in the Cathedral’s sanctuary.
PHOTO GALLERY: Sinulog-Santo Niño
“This celebration reminds the community that the Cathedral is an active place that represents the whole Diocese, which is made up of many different cultures,” said Father Adam Cichoski, Cathedral rector, who concelebrated the Mass along with Father Stephen Robbins, parochial vicar; and priests of Saint Simon Stock Parish, Berlin, Father Michael A.J. de Leon, A.M., pastor, and Father J. Philip Ramos, A.M., in residence. Deacon Fernando “Andy” Encarnado from Our Lady of Hope Parish, Blackwood, assisted.
In his homily, Bishop-elect Esmilla preached on joy, evangelization and discipleship. “God wants to use you as his missionary disciple to share the Good News. Is there anyone in your life right now who you want to meet Jesus?”
He continued, “Our devotion to the Santo Niño leads us to become the bravest, the strongest and the happiest if we follow his Word. Love God, and love your brothers and sisters.”
One cannot have joy, however, without forgiveness.
“All of us experience joy, but not all of us experience complete joy,” said Bishop-elect Esmilla, who is only the fourth Filipino bishop in the United States. “To have complete joy, you must always have the three ingredients of J-O-Y. J stands for Jesus. O stands for others. Y stands for yourself. If you have Jesus, others and yourself, you will always have complete joy. It cannot just be you and Jesus without others. It cannot just be you and others without Jesus. You need to put the three ingredients together.”
Before the Mass ended, Bishop-elect Esmilla called the dozens of children in attendance to approach the ambo. There, he asked Father Cichoski, diocesan director of vocations, to offer a blessing for vocations upon the children, that perhaps one day, some of the children would be called to the priesthood or religious life.
As the community processed out of the church and to the nearby Cathedral Hall to enjoy traditional food and music, Tina Aquino, a member of the Diocese’s Filipino Apostolate, reflected on helping bring the Sinulog and monthly Santo Niño novena to the Cathedral with her husband, Andy. The Cathedral parishioner has been instrumental in continuing traditions and involving the Philippine Community of Southern New Jersey, and continues to do so after the passing of her husband.
With tears in her eyes, Aquino’s daughter, Michelle Santiago, looked around Cathedral Hall as hundreds watched costumed dancers perform.
“To see this many people here today, my heart is overflowing with happiness and pride,” said Santiago, of Our Lady of Hope Parish.
Joy was certainly on display as Father Ramos joined Bishop-elect Esmilla and families in dancing. He said the event was a good way to celebrate the many cultures that make up the Diocese of Camden.
“As a Filipino priest serving in the Diocese, I am happy to support this celebration … and to continue the culture we have in the Philippines and to share it here in the Diocese and the United States.”
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