Firenze – It should have been a perfectly joyful celebration of the birth day of Jesus Christ by the Filipino Catholic Community of Firenze if not for the sad news on the damages brought about by typhoon Sendong in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City in Mindanao in the Philippines.
Sister Maria Erlita Bautro, the Pastoral Associate of the said community in her opening speech said “We were thinking of not pursuing this celebration anymore as it seems awkward while our brothers and sisters in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro City are suffering the lost of their loved ones and several properties, however, we finally decided to go on with it for the spirit of Christmas and perhaps through this get-together we could start joining our hands for a better cause, that is, to share a little portion of our blessings together for our devastated brothers and sisters in Mindanao”.
Fun was full-blown in the celebration as every member- children, youth, and adult all had fun. Everyone, every affiliate group have prepared something to show and share and no one was spared not even Reverend Father Reynold Corsino , the Filipino Parish Priest of San Barnaba church who unselfishly demonstrated his skill in (macho) dancing.
A concelebrated mass followed after the celebration with Reverend Fathers Gianni Guida and Reynold Corsino officiating. Towards the end of the mass, Father Corsino reiterated to the church goers the Catholic Community’s call for help in kind or in cash for the victims of typhoon Sendong in the Philippines.
Donations poured- in as a result in the church of San Barnaba- in cash and in kind such as used clothes, shoes, toys, pastas, rice, etc. from the Filipinos in Firenze. Several cargo boxes of goods were packed as a result which were sent and divided to the two affected cities in Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. The Atlas Cargo owned by Mike Figueroa committed a half price of the fee for the shipment of the boxes. (by: Tess Salamero)
