Vigil

     Last night I had the privilege of attending an interfaith prayer vigil in remembrance of the victims of the Lapu Lapu Day tragedy: A Community in Mourning. It was held at 5 pm at Miramar Plaza in White Rock and was a moving tribute to the lives lost. Sponsored and organized by the local interfaith community, it included prayers, songs and remembrances delivered by those within the Filipino community as well as those affected, their friends and neighbours. As speaker Jeff Solis indicated, this vigil was holding space so our grief could be shared with others who care.

     The Himig Kabataan Cultural Society Choir gave us several musical offerings both in English and Tagalog that expressed a deep sense of longing to be connected with one another as well as our need to be comforted by our Lord. People from public office, faith leaders like our own Father Joe and community coordinators used words of hope and healing in acknowledgment of the pain and heartbreak caused by the festival catastrophe. In a very moving musical offering composed by The Rev. Eduardo Hontiveros entitled “Pananagutan” which translated means “responsibility” and also sung by the Himig Kabataan Cultural Society Choir, the song encouraged us to look out for one another: “We are all responsible for each other, We are all gathered by God, who is with Him”. I was uplifted as I saw so many of my fellow parishioners in attendance. Some of my friends from outside of the church also attended and were very touched by the service.

     At the end of the vigil we were encouraged to bring forth our flowers and candles which formed a beautiful visual statement of Jesus’ second great commandment: Love thy neighbour as thy self. The final prayer comforted us and readied us to go out in the world once again:

God of Astonishing Mercy, Compassion and Immeasurable Love, restore our broken hearts and enliven our confidence to find new ways to revive our world to become one of peace. Amen