Our Awesome and Highly Blessed Fall Festival

My beloved parishioners, with you and for your, and with all the saints and the souls of the just, I lift up my hands in thanksgiving to God Almighty for the blessing of our just-ended Fall Festival. It was awesome and highly blessed. The festival was a beautiful preparation for the celebration of All Saints and Souls, and thus we celebrate them with joyful and grateful hearts.  

Our number one goal for the festival was the strengthening of the bond of fellowship among us parishioners and reaching out to make disciples of all peoples. This goal was greatly achieved to the greater glory of God. It was a three-day gathering to celebrate the uniqueness of each and every one of us as well as the gift of our diversity. The diversity was obvious in many ways: the food, the music, dances and displays, the generations, dressing, and entertainments.  

I had expressed the wish that during the three days, parishioners would not cook in their homes or eat in restaurants except for breakfasts. I believe that many people hearkened to this wish; so, I am not surprised that all the tacos and a lot others sold out before the festival ended. Besides food, we had fun in meeting and chatting with people, being entertained to music, and displays by our students and dances. We had a variety of rides too.

A lot of planning, energy, work and sacrifices went into the preparation of the festival and its execution. Parishioners of all ages were at their best in serving and volunteering. At every department, I witnessed commitment and stewardship at their best: those cooking and preparing the food, serving what was cooked, the security, selling tickets, managing the raffles, the stage for music and displays, selling drinks, and the various tables.  

Mid way on Saturday, we had some showers of blessing; a little rainfall that helped to cool the weather and make it the best for the kind of crowd we had at the festival ground. The Eucharistic celebrations at the weekend experienced the impact of the festival too. The three days of the festival were indeed like the taste of eternity. As we drew close to its end, I wished we had one more day to go. I enjoyed it. I met people I had not met before. I got familiar with some others. I believe this is a common experience.  

I hope we also raised some funds for our parish and school through the festival. We need funds to keep the systems, structures and personnel in our parish running. I appreciate every contribution to this part of the festival. Congrats to those who won the raffle baskets and a big thanks to those who donated the baskets. By the way, I won one of the baskets. Lucky me!

We look forward to another year, come 2027. It will be the 80th anniversary of our parish. I hope it will be a festival with a difference. Let us pray, plan, and live in hope towards it.

To John Paul Lopez and his close collaborators, and all (from the school and parish) who worked tirelessly to plan and execute the festival, I express an unconditional gratitude, and impart special heavenly blessings, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Happy All Saints and All Souls to you all.  



© Fr Bona 2026.