165th ANNIVERSARY OF LA SALETTE CELEBRATED

Celebration of the 165^th Anniversary of the Apparition  of Our Lady of La Salette

 La Salette Alums and friends

St. CHRISTOPHER PARISH, Moreno Valley, CA

“MAKE THIS  MESSAGE KNOWN TO ALL MY PEOPLE”

“Wow, this is marvelous to see all the ethnic communities in the parish come together to celebrate  this spiritual event…first time ever,” commented by a parishioner.

Yes, on Sept. 17, all the ethnic communities of St Christopher parish in Moreno Valley came together to celebrate the 165^th anniversary of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to two cowherds, Melanie and Maximin, in the French alps near the village of La Salette on September 19, 1846. The parish is administered by the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette.

LITURGY OPENS THE EVENT…

Native American bringing gifts to the altar

The Eucharist is very central in the message of our Lady of La Salette. As a prelude to the Liturgy, a video of the story of the apparition was played before the mass began.

The Event began with Mass in which members of the different ethnic communities of the parish participated. The first and second readings were read by two children in Tagalog (Filipiono language) and Spanish respectively. As this was being read, the English translation was projected on the screens in front of the faithful.

Fr. Arlan Intal, MS, delivered a very inspiring homily after which he and the other La Salette Fathers renewed their vows as religious and prayed the Consecration to our Lady of La Salette in front of the image of our Lady.

The prayers of the faithful were read in different languages by the Adults: English, Tagalog, Spanish, African (Sierra Leone, Africa), Slovak, Native American and French.) The English translations were also projected on the screen.

 A group of young people who were dressed colorfully in their traditional ethnic costumes presented of the Gifts of Bread and Wine with liturgical movements.

DISPLAY OF  MARIAN IMAGES BY THE ETHNIC COMMUNITIES…

A very important part of the celebration was the display of Marian images brought by the different ethnic communities: A Japanese Madonna, African, Filipino, Hispanic, to name a few.  One of the most emotionally powerful images is this one.

Collection of cultural expressions of La Salette Apparition
expressed by the delegates to the First International Gathering
of Salettinian Lay People at La Salette, France, Septembeer 1 - 10, 2011

ETHNIC FOODS AND ENTERTAINMENT…

The multicultural celebration of Eucharist and prayer continued with an international cuisine and entertainment provided by the ethnic communities. This was an occasion for getting to know one another as well as enjoying the ethnic dances and songs.  

The drama of the Prodigal Son  presented by the Drama Ministry of the Parish concluded the  entertainment, so appropriately with the message of our Lady of

La Salette: Conversion and Reconciliation

We are sure that our Lady was looking down on us with glee on this day. Indeed this memorable celebration was an occasion to make our Lady’s message known to ALL her people at St. Christopher’s Church.

The Father of the Prodigal Son