Flores de Mayo or Flowers of May is one of the festive activities that the Catholic Church celebrates in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Flores de Mayo is composed of a month-long catechesis about the Blessed Virgin Mary given to the children and the young ones. During this pandemic, the catholic church, as advised by the Diocese, allowed the face-to-face set up of catechesis for children.
The UNO-Recoletos Campus Ministry Office has adopted four communities this academic year: GK Banago, RESOURCE Handumanan, the St. Ezekiel Moreno Monastery, Bacolod City, and the Hda. Libertad Dose, Damsite, Murcia. For the GK Banago, the volunteer catechists are from the Student Supreme Government (SSG), Divine Grace Toles, and College of Education (CoEd), namely, Amy Marie, Arthur Santarita, Brisa Nicole Fernandez, Gianne Cammille Barrera, Joesh Paulo Piodena, and Roan Donesa and was accompanied by the Campus Ministry Office Staff, Ms. Lucille Rosquillo. While in the RESOURCE Handumanan, members of the Children of Mary (COM), namely Rynne Arca, Izaiah Montaño, Patricia Obligado, Christian Don, Reniel Escote, Minette Mendez, Lee Ann Galila, and Jether James Ilad, are the volunteer catechists. For the Monastery of St. Ezekiel Moreno, the volunteer catechist are from the Recollect Augustinian Youth (RAY), namely Glorie Lyn Sorgon, Beah Marie Ganarias, Marian Escobar, Jeannie Delfin, Alyssa Nicole Saludares, Chelsea Tasic, Geamaika Marisse Maderico, Alliah Eupratan, and Xavier Emnace. Lastly, the volunteered catechist for the Hda. Libertad Dos, Damsite, Murcia are from the Student Catholic Action of the Philippines (SCAP), namely, Karyllyn Gasendo, Brian Alan Roa, Ednalyn Balico, Melrose Seron, James Patrick Laporno, Veronica Therese Avenido, Kazumi Gidlayan, and Beah Marie Ganarias and were accompanied by their Adviser and Campus Ministry Staff, Mr. Joey Jolito. As for the UNO-R Community, the Campus Ministry Office decided to have 4 Saturdays for the catechesis considering the schedule of the volunteers. The topics being discussed are the OAR Saints, Virtues of Mary, and Basic Prayers for the preparation of the First Communicants. The GK Banago has a total of 46 florestas, 46 for the RESOURCE Handumanan as well, 25 for the Monastery of St. Ezekiel Moreno, Confession, First Holy Communion, and Offering of Flowers to Mama Mary culminates the Flores de Mayo Activity of the respective community last May 30, 2022, and May 31, 2022.. (SCAn Beah Marie Ganarias)
The UNO-R community held the culmination of the Flores de Mayo last May 31, 2022, at the Oratory at 9 am. The activity opened with the community rosary. The Thanksgiving Mass, which was led by Fray Cristituto Palomar, OAR, commenced with the floral offering by the members of the community. The children from Libertad Dos, Barangay Cansilayan, Murcia had their first communion. Before the final blessing, the children sang a song to the community as a sign of their thanksgiving. They were also given school supplies collected by UCDO from the university community. A simple agape followed after the Mass.