Church-to-church Easter procession keeps Filipino tradition alive on P.E.I.

Islanders may see a convoy of cars visiting Catholic churches on Good Friday. The cars will be filled with Filipino Islanders marking an Easter tradition usually held the day before.

The Philippines is one of the few countries in Asia where Christianity is the predominant faith. The Thursdaybefore Easter Maundy Thursday is a holiday in the Philippines and a traditional day to visit numerous churches and pray.

But Filipinos on P.E.I. moved it to Good Friday when most of the people have the day off, said LetiLaRosa, who helps organizethe annual trek.

"It makes me happy to have this tradition in the Philippinescontinuing here. It is very refreshing a day for us to give thanksgiving."

LaRosaand her family were the first Filipinos to move to P.E.I. 40 years ago. She estimates there are now about 2,000 who have moved to the Island for work. The majority live in western P.E.I. working in fish and food plants.

I'm amazed seeing their faith.- Father Joseph Dovari

Father Joseph Dovari, in his first year as a pastor at Holy Redeemer Parish in Charlottetown, said he's looking forward to sharing mass with the Filipino community on Friday.

"Amonth ago we had a Filipino mass here,the church was full and a priest came from Halifax to say mass in their language.I'm amazed seeing their faith. They've travelled all the way from their country and they are so hard working."

After Holy Redeemer, the 14-church pilgrimage will go to St. Dunstan'sBasilica andPius the X in Charlottetown, Our Lady ofAssumption in Stratford, St. Francis of Assisi in Cornwall,St. Malachy'sin Kinkora, St. Peter's Church in Nine Mile Bay, St. Paul's in Summerside, St. Johnthe Baptist in Miscouche, St. Patrick's Church in Grand River, Immaculate Conception Church in Richmond, St. Anthony Church in Bloomfield,Sacred Heart Church in Albertonand St. Simon and St. Jude in Tignish.

The day is well organized.

"We have prayers that are prepared and Filipinos assigned to read in every church," LaRosa said. "We pray for thanksgiving and it's a chance for us to givetime to the Lord for what he has given us."

The group stops for a potluck lunch at the fire hall in Miscoucheand a wrap-up potluck is hosted at a home in Tignish.

LaRosa said many Filipinos have difficult lives and leave their homeland for a variety of reasons, including poverty, political corruption, crime and ambition to lead a better life. She beams talking about how many on P.E.I. have become Canadian citizens, and passing along traditions like Maundy Thursday to young people.

"By introducing this to the children, who have often left [the Philippines] when they were very young, it keeps the tradition going."

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