Scores of Catholics, mainly Filipinos or individuals of Filipino heritage, celebrated Christmas by singing hymns and festive songs at St. Christopher's Church in Taipei on Sunday, creating a home-away-from-home for migrants and overseas workers.
The Christmas celebrations at the church, which has been an annual tradition since the church was established in 1958, was this year called "'The Voices of SCCC Christmas Musicals'" and featured 12 groups made up of church parishioners who sang songs about Jesus and Christmas.
As those that participated sang along and grooved to the rhythm, the church, which is heavily involved in the migrant community, was filled with a festive and welcoming atmosphere, demonstrating its role as a pillar of support for parishioners who have made Taiwan their second home.
Migrants and migrant workers play a major role in the local economy and society and bring with them their traditions, culture and faith, which make Taiwan a more multicultural and vibrant society.
Father Edward Pacquing, CS, St. Christopher's Church parish priest, told CNA the event helps Filipino migrants feel as if they are at home at Christmas, which is a major event in the Philippines and is celebrated nearly everywhere.
"People unite, come together to enjoy peace and harmony by sharing what they have, and to become one with their community and the whole country," Pacquing said. "This is one way to make us feel like we are with our loved ones back home."
Also participating in the event were Vietnamese students who formed a group and sang popular Christmas songs.
The event also unveiled the winners of a Christmas wreath making competition organized by the church this month, with the wreaths all made from recyclable materials.
Thirteen entries were displayed on the walls of the church from Dec. 18-24, with the first-place prize of NT$3,000 (US$97.57) going to a wreath made from used candles, dried flowers and recycled cartons by a group from the church called Banal ng Pag-aaral.
Filipino-Taiwanese Luisa Seares (???), a member of the group, told CNA that the recycled materials were from their offerings during prayer and symbolizes the meaning of Christmas.
"We couldn't have made this beautiful wreath without the grace of God," she said.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel