MORE than 30 people, mostly young people, joined a ‘dress like a saint’ activity at the Saint Michael Cathedral Church on Oct. 31, the eve of All Saints’ Day.
The event, organized by the Church to counter secular Halloween celebrations, aimed to honor the saints and educate the youth on the true Christian essence of the holiday.
Sister Maria Mercedita Lim Adante, of the Missionary Sisters of our Lady of the Triumph of the Cross and GSK Coordinator, said the goal was to showcase the lives of holy figures.
“Instead of following the horror and Halloween traditions, we want to highlight the lives of the saints, how they lived, their virtues and their faith,” Sister Maria said.
She added: “We hope this activity will help our youth understand that Halloween, with its dark and scary themes, is not in line with our Christian values. We should honor the saints, not horror.”
She encouraged the young participants to emulate not just the costumes of the saints but also their virtues and faith-filled lives.
For Emerose, a Grade 12 student who portrayed Our Mother of Perpetual Help, joining the event was a meaningful spiritual experience.
“I felt happy and relieved worshipping God. It makes you feel closer to Him,” she said.
Angelo Besto, 21, who portrayed Saint Jude, said he prayed to the saint for a full recovery from his illness and to become a better person.
“I was born with a blood clot in my head and even fell into a coma for two months. I’m praying to Saint Jude that I'll be healed and become a kind person and my sins be forgiven,” Besto said.
The participants, who were mostly youth members and GSK ministries, portrayed a wide array of patron figures, including San Jose, Santa Lucia, San Roque, San Vicente Ferrer, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Fatima, San Pedro Calungsod and St. Dominique.
Through activities like this, the Church hopes to deepen the faith of young people and promote a celebration of holiness and Christian identity over secular Halloween festivities.
