The Nativity of St. John The Baptist

 (06/24/21) A Get-together By the Park as we say bye-bye to June.

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) The New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition.

After a brief hiatus, foregoing a year of celebration, the Santo Nino' de Agosto, a Catholic Religious Organization deserves a get-together. This was the great idea of Gloria Lumanao Espinoza Key, the untiring and energetic leader of the Society of the Beloved Disciple and who is also responsible for holding a nightly (8:00 pm to 9:00 pm) virtual prayer group since the advent of the pandemic covid-19.

At this precarious pandemic time, when almost everybody communicates by distance, Zoom through phones or the internet, a gathering in the park is worthy to be chronicled. Thursday, the 24th of June 2021, the Santo Nino' Group of Rev. Fr. Leoncio S. Santiago, his weekly Bible Study Group, and the members of the monthly Sister Milagros's Verbum Dei Bible Study Group, held a picnic by the Labagh Woods Park from 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. This is a prelude to the yearly Santo Nino' de Agosto Fiesta by August.

Mother Nature was kind enough to scatter showers sans thunderstorms in mid-afternoon at least to ease out the heat of summer. The Groups'  members and their friends arrived happily bringing homemade and restaurant foods for the picnic table on a shed. The food-laden tables at precisely noon time were surrounded by the red-shirt picnickers who bowed their heads while the Spiritual Adviser led the prayer before a meal.

Meanwhile, an Atenean and a former seminarian provided the music of almost all retiree members of the Santo Nino' de Agosto, and the Bible Study Groups.

Somebody has said, " Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine. Life is not waiting for the  storm to pass, it's learning to dance in the rain."  Amidst the rain outside, the Group by the picnic shed did their valuable time with songs, jokes, and dancing.

Fr. Santiago, made an inspiring remark about the day of St. John, the Baptist. Indeed we should be glad, enjoy, sing, and dance as life are short and priceless. And rightfully so, happiness filled the air, meanwhile, the emcee, Expo Taghap, and Fr. Santiago interspersed the program with gems of jokes, which really were a relief at the moment. Then, there was a picture-taking session of the different Santo Nino' chapters for the Souvenir  Program of the coming Fiesta.

Another good-hearted person said, " Every day is a new beginning. Take a deep breath, smile, and begin again. God woke you up today for a reason. Trust in His plan. His timing is perfect. He will make a way. Amen."

"NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL, GET UP, DRESS UP, SHOW UP and NEVER GIVE UP! 

HAVE A BLISSFUL, BLESSED DAY EVERYONE!