THE Hervey Bay Filipino community was blessed on May 13 when the weather cleared long enough for their Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May) festival.
It was the first time the festival had been celebrated in the parish.
Organiser Lori Bedford said dark clouds cleared in time for a statue of Our Blessed Virgin Mary to be carried in procession into St Joseph’s Church at Pialba.
She said the procession was led by parish priest Fr Joseph Hien Van Vo and young people dressed in white.
‘The tradition of Flores de Mayo began during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines and continues to this day,’ she said.
She said the celebration included Mass, the Rosary and placement of flowers around the statue of Our Lady.
