On Oct. 24, when Koblerville celebrated the St. Jude fiesta, his song was performed in public by the Light & Salt Choir whose keyboard player, Variety graphic artist Dia Ramos, provided the melody to his composition.
“Dia, the Light & Salt organist, guitarist and drummer — she’s a musically gifted person,” Borja said.
The tune, he added, was written to be the theme song of the Light & Salt Charismatic Community.
He said the song is “about people who responded to God’s call to become a community of believers, and after being sealed by the Holy Spirit they promised commitment to become the light and salt of the earth by proclaiming God’s love and words and believing that everyone who comes to Him will have eternal life.”
Borja said the recent fiesta celebration was very successful.
He said one of his active parishioners relayed to him that “this was the first time that our novena was well attended.”
They started the nine-day novena in honor of St Jude on Oct. 16.
On the last day, Sunday, Oct. 24, Mass was celebrated by Bishop Emeritus Tomas A. Camacho.
“I was glad also that the pre-confirmation and confirmation students were always present during the nine-day novena,” Borja said.
He said they are blessed with three students who joined their growing Altar-Server Ministry.
Despite the recent government shutdown and implementation of austerity measures, Borja said the people generously responded to the church’s appeal for contributions.
“Each week, after Mass during Sunday, they came to the sacristy to give their contributions. ‘Father, I don’t have much right now, but I want to donate for our fiesta,’ one active parishioner told me.”
During the feast day, the church was so packed with parishioners and devotees of St. Jude that they had to open the old church.
“The celebration was simple yet festive and it was very smooth,” Borja said.
On that day, the church was decorated with local flowers.
“I am personally touched that some of our parishioners who are cancer patients came to prepare the church despite their personal health issues. May St. Jude intercede for their prayers and may God grant them healing,” the priest said.
The parishioners also actively participated during the Eucharistic celebration in praying, singing, and giving thanks, he added.
The “Friends of St. Jude Choir” led by Pai Camacho together with the Light & Salt Charismatic Choir did a wonderful and impressive job in setting the atmosphere to have a solemn, prayerful, and meaningful celebration, Borja said.
After the Mass, parishioners joined the procession despite the rainy weather.
Borja said he was thankful to Rita V. Barbo, food committee head, for contacting sponsors, donors and benefactors who provided food, water, tents and tables.
“I sincerely appreciate the contributions of all the people who in one way or another made the St. Jude fiesta another successful celebration,” he said.
