The Santo Nino Prayer Groups of New York

 

By AAMedrano

Brief History

The Santo Niño Prayer Groups of New York are very much involved with the Filipino Pastoral Ministry based in Our Lady Pompei Church, Greenwich Village. The FPM provides a meaningful and comprehensive program for the Filipino immigrants and their families; emphasizes the preservation of the Filipino traditional moral values and cultural heritage. Under the guidance of Father Bobby Sison, the Santo Nino Prayer Groups of New York serve as the conduit to the vast majority of Filipino - American immigrants that the FPM serve. This group has grown significantly since its founding in 1983 and has branched out into several groups - Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and Bronx Chapters.

The devotion to the Santo Nino have brought many Filipino families together. A member's home serve as host for a week to pray and sometimes in celebration of a special occasion like birthdays, anniversaries, etc. As part of his apostolate, Father Bobby would come and join the group in their prayer meetings.

The transfer of the Image to another host is usually done on Sundays after the weekly devotion. The scheduling of the home visitation are handled by the Coordinators of the different chapter. They also coordinate with the Filipino Pastoral Ministry on all its Santo Nino related programs and activities .

The honoring of Santo with nine weeks Novena and Misang Pilipino in preparation for the Feast day of Santo Niño has become the tradition among members and their families. In the duration of the Novena the transfer of the Image is done in the church. The Pistang Pilipino sa Village in honor of Santo Niño is celebrated every year on the third Sunday of June, Father's day.

The Santo Niño Prayer Groups of New York used to celebrate the Santo Niño Fiesta twice a year. The first celebration was on the 3rd Sunday of January at St Patrick's Church in Long Island City that started in 1984 sponsored by the SPGNY-Queens. And the second celebration was on Fathers day in June sponsored by the SPGNY-Manhattan chapter.

The SPGNY - Manhattan chapter started to celebrate the annual feast of Santo Niño in different churches in Manhattan since 1987 until Father Bobby Sison, the 1st Spiritual Director of the SPG-NY transferred to Our Lady of Pompei. The then Father Provincial of the Scalabrini Fathers, the Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, C.S. Papal Nuncio to Ethiopia and Erithea, invited him to organize the Filipino Pastoral Ministry at Our Lady of Pompei in New York to assist the many Filipinos spread out throughout the metropolitan area.

Father Bobby launched the Filipino Pastoral Ministry on October 26, 1988 with the Novena to Mother of Perpetual Help and in the following year the Santo Niño Fiesta was held in the village.

On June 18, 1989 the first Santo Niño Feast day was celebrated at Our Lady of Pompei Church sponsored by the SPG/NY - Manhattan chapter.

In 1991 Father Bobby decided to merge the two Santo Nino Feast day celebration. The different SPG-NY chapters took turns in sponsoring the celebration at Our Lady of Pompei Church on Father's Day.

On June 20, 2004 was the 16th year annual celebration held at Our Lady of Pompei Church in the village and the 21st year anniversary since the group was founded in 1983. This year's host was the SPGNY - Queens Chapter. The devotion to Santo Nino affiliated with the FPM is not only confined in New York but also in other states such as Boston, Massachusetts and Kissemmee, Florida initiated by former members of the SPGNY who moved in and relocated to this respective states.

Another religious tradition that the Filipino Pastoral Ministry and the Santo Niño Prayer Groups of New York initiated 14th years ago is the May Flower Festival "Flores de Mayo" in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The flower offering by the children during all Sundays of May is highlighted by the crowning of the statue of the Virgin Mary and the Santakrusan procession. Many participants of the Santakrusan are the sons and daughters of the members and member families Santo Nino Prayer Groups of New York. The Santakrusan procession included the traditional Sinulog dance for Santo Nino by the SPG-NY members. The colorful "patadyong" and the booming beat of the drum signals the start of the festive celebration to honor Santo Nino. The Sinulog group was organized in 1995 by the members of the SPG-NY to show devotion to Santo Nino through the prayer dance offering and has become an integral part of the Santakrusan and the Santo Niño Fiesta celebration at Our Lady of Pompei.

We pay tribute to Father Bobby Sison, the founding Director of the Filipino Pastoral Ministry and the 1st Spiritual Director of the SPGNY for his pioneering effort in establishing the Filipino Pastoral Ministry to become the welcoming church for the Filipino community and the spiritual guidance he gave to all of us during his lifetime.

We also pay tribute to the pioneers, the first generation members of the SPG-NY who started the devotion and now to the new generation members and member families who carry on the propagation of the Santo Niño devotion.

Let us be proud of our tradition. Let us work together to keep it alive.

Mabuhay ang Santo Niño!

SPGNY/aam06/020/04