Things To Do

Celebrate the Feast of Sto. Niño and Sinulog Festival 2024

Michael Lewis

As January ushers in the new year, the Filipino Catholic Community of Arizona invites you to partake in the annual celebration of the Feast of Sto. Niño, coinciding with the Sinulog Festival. This year, Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Phoenix will host the event on Sunday, January 21, 2024, marking a day steeped in cultural significance and religious reverence.

About the Sinulog Festival

The Sinulog Festival is a significant cultural and religious festival in the Philippines, which is celebrated every third Sunday of January. It’s a dance ritual that commemorates the Filipino people’s pagan past and their acceptance of Christianity. The festival features a dance that is a prayer of worship and is characterized by a two-step forward, one-step backward movement, resembling the flow of the River or “Sulog.”

Sinulog Festival Dance  – FAMAZ Dancers Circa 2017

The Feast of Sto. Niño (Infant Jesus)

Program / Schedule of Events

January 21, 2024, at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church (3220 W Greenway Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85053 – Directions)

  • 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Parlor Games & Activities for Children & Teens by Dino Flores, Resty, and volunteers. Cotton Candy Machine by Cecile Montenegro Igos Family. (Prizes sponsored by Ms. Diana Callahan)
  • 3:00 PM – 3:05 PM: Opening Prayer by Deacon JR Dalisay
  • 3:05 PM – 3:15 PM: National Anthems by The FCC/OLV Choir – Lupang Hinirang and The Star-Spangled Banner
  • 3:15 PM – 3:25 PM: Sinulog History Monologue by Mr. John Aquino with the FCC/OLV Sto. Niño image (2024 Winner of OLV Simbang Gabi Parol Contest)
  • 3:25 PM – 3:30 PM: Sinulog Dances with Ms. Patty Chaves and volunteers
  • 3:30 PM – 3:40 PM: Sinulog Dance and Singkil Dance by Phoenix Asian American Leos and Clubs
  • 3:40 PM – 3:45 PM: The MFC Sinulog Dancers
  • 3:45 PM – 3:50 PM: The FAMAZ & Friends Sinulog Dancers with Sinulog Queen Ms. Rebecca Acero (Top 40 Model Phx Fashion Week)
  • 3:50 PM – 4:10 PM: Preparation for Procession by Eva and Alex and the committees – Line up accordingly with group, families, and parishioners
  • 4:10 PM – 4:40 PM: Procession
  • 4:40 PM – 5:00 PM: Preparation for the Holy Mass – Take a restroom break to prepare for the Holy Mass
  • 5:00 PM – 6:20 PM: Holy Mass to be presided by Bishop Nevares and The Filipino Catholic Priests and Acknowledgments before the final blessings by FCCOLV President Evelyn Flores
  • 6:20 PM – 8:00 PM: Sto. Niño Fiesta Celebration & Dinner
  • 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Clean up time and Home Sweet Home with the blessings of our beloved Sto. Niño for good health and protection.

This gathering is a time-honored event reflecting the rich cultural heritage and devotion of the Filipino community. The day will be filled with music, dance, and prayer, culminating in a Mass and a fiesta celebration in honor of the Holy Child Jesus.

 

Michael Lewis

Michael is joined at the hip with the Filipino American community through family, friends, and his love for the food. Over the past 15 years+, he has been an active "behind the scenes" contributor to a variety of Filipino community groups, events, and activities. Michael is also ringleader of the FilAm FamBam crew and in his free time enjoys RV'ing and anything tech.

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