So sad to see

[ConstantineTG]

We have many Filipino workers in our community and several of them attend our parish. Our Filipino pastor is going to bring in some Filipino hymns and hopes they will sing on Saturdays when we generally have no musicians and no one to lead the singing.

What I don’t understand here in Vancouver with at least 2 parish pastors being Filipino and most parishes with significant number of Filipino parishioners, there’s not one single Filipino Mass. One would only be said on occasion. I was pleasantly surprised that there is a Simbang Gabi (9-day pre-dawn novena Masses before Christmas) here though. Will be attending next year.

 

[Elizabeth502]

I have seen a massive upsurge in the number of hispanics in the suburban churches I have attended.

I haven’t. I’ve seen a massive upsurge in Hispanics going to evangelical Protestant churches, both in the City and in the 'burbs.

 

[Maureen1125]

I just recently started attending daily AM mass and it seems “crowded” but that is because the chapel only has seating for 40people. so 20-25 people show up and it seem “full”. What I have noticed is that for the 20 people that are there, we make more noise then the crowded 200+ attended Sunday mass. Those of us that are there actually participate in the liturgy and it is very fulfilling to hear such loud, clear, strong responses to the mass.

I never attended morning mass in the past because 1) I have small children, 3 and 10 and 2) I work full-time so really there is just no way for me to make it to mass and make it to work ontime. Since I lost my job and I have this opportunity to attend mass daily, I am embracing it, while I can

 

[Sunbreak]

It may be the time the mass is offered. My church is full on the weekends, but the daily mass attendance varies, depending on the day. The masses that are scheduled during the working day do not have good attendance because 1.) this is an ethnic parish and most parishioners do not live nearby 2.) a person who starts work at 8 or even 9 would not be able to commute in heavy traffic to work on time and go to an 8 am mass 3) there are quite a few other parishes in the metro area and some have better daily mass times.

 

[Phemie]

What I don’t understand here in Vancouver with at least 2 parish pastors being Filipino and most parishes with significant number of Filipino parishioners, there’s not one single Filipino Mass. One would only be said on occasion. I was pleasantly surprised that there is a Simbang Gabi (9-day pre-dawn novena Masses before Christmas) here though. Will be attending next year.

Well, so far, our congregation only sees about 8 Filiponas at any given Mass, given that they all work shift work at the local Tim Hortons. Perhaps I gave the wrong impression of ‘many’ – it’s many for us where we’ve gone from a Filipino population of 1 (our pastor) to as many as 25, soon to be joined by a further 20, all here on two-year work contracts.

The owner of the Tim Hortons purchased our former Catechetical Center and turned it into a residence for several of these women so we see them often – yes, that’s how I know them, it has nothing whatsoever to do with how often we’re at Tims for coffee.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I haven’t. I’ve seen a massive upsurge in Hispanics going to evangelical Protestant churches, both in the City and in the 'burbs.

I see that Evangelicals and Pentecostals are very good in luring immigrants. Since immigrants don’t usually have friends and even family when they move, they offer support systems for immigrants and thus end up pulling Catholic immigrants to their churches.

 

[archlight]

Time to bring the Filipinos in

If I may boast of my ethnicity, many of my co-immigrants from my home country has been filling in the pews here in the Lower Mainland, BC (Greater Vancouver area). Immigrants has been largely fueling the growth of the Catholic population in Canada. I heard a newsbit in the past too that they say that in the US, the number of Catholics is actually growing but there is a huge demographic shift to the immigrants, so Latin Americans and Filipinos who come from Catholic countries moving to the US. Here in Vancouver theres thousands of immigrants who come in every year, same for other big cities here like Toronto and even Winnipeg has become a popular immigrant destination because they’re one of the most open provinces to immigrants (maybe because of the bitter cold, no one really wants to move there except those who wish to start a new life in Canada). Although Winnipeg also is the center of Ukrainian immigrants and would have many Ukrainian Cathoic parishes.

korek ka dyan!

Go team Philippines!

 

[Maureen1125]

I would love it if 1x a week the morning mass was moved to a Lunch time/noon mass that way I could attend on my lunch break - when I get a job.

 

[charlespinoy]

So true. I’m part Filipina and being around them all the time, can agree with the above with no problem. And, boy, do they love to sing - in church and out. (Can’t get through a Filipino party without an all-night karoke session.)

You can say that again!