Live ‘sugat’ portrayed in OLLP amidst heavy rain

Despite the heavy downpour of rain, the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Bangkal successfully had its live reenactment of ‘Sugat’ on parish ground in the early morning of Easter Sunday when thousands of devotees witnessed the spectacular tradition of the Risen Christ gloriously meeting Mama Mary. The Risen Christ was portrayed by Ar-jay Duran, and his real-life mother Jovelyn Duran played the role of Mama Mary. Also included in Resurrection reenactment were scores of little children who raised their beautiful voices like little angels in the early dawn of 16 April 2017.

“Ang mensahe kanato karon niining sugat mao ang gugma,” Parish Priest Fr. Dexter Veloso said in his homily. “Ang inyong dakung gugma sa parokya maoy nagdasig kaninyo sa pagpakigduyog kay Mama Mary sa pagsugat sa Nabanhaw’ng Hesus luyo sa dakung hagit sa ulan karong adlawa,” acclaimed Fr. Dexter.

Fr. Dexter said that rains are part of ecological system that should happen and should not be stopped as it only manifests the love of God through the shower of blessings; and soon after his homily, dark clouds of dawn widely opened and blessed faithful parishioners with downpour of rain in the open parish ground where the live reenactment of ‘Sugat’ was portrayed and the Holy Eucharist of the Resurrection was celebrated.

The priest acknowledged the beautiful decorations of fresh flowers surrounding Mary’s grotto along the fishpond with little school of fish in it, as well as the gallery of saints that firmly stood along the parish perimeters. “All these are products of your love to Mama Mary and to your parish; for the time, talent and treasure that you shared in this parish are expressions of your love and faith to Mama Mary and to the Risen Christ,” he continued.

“The message we had in today’s ‘Sugat’ seems to be a continuation of the message we had last night in the Easter Vigil,” commented one parishioner as she recalled Msgr. Abel Apigo’s message in his homily that “Easter is the central truth of our faith”. (Vonz M. Hijada | OLLP SoCCom)