ILOILO City – In response to rising temperatures and unpredictable weather, the Archdiocese of Jaro has rolled out an adaptive catechetical module for this year’s Flores de Mayo to ensure the safety and continued faith formation of children and parishioners despite the sweltering heat.
Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May) is a long-standing Filipino Catholic tradition held throughout the month of May to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. It features daily catechism sessions for children, floral offerings, prayers, and capped by a festive procession known as the Santacruzan, which commemorate the finding of the True Cross by St. Helena. It is one of the country’s most beloved religious and cultural observances.
Archbishop Midyphil Billones issued the new catechetical module titled “Si Maria kag ang Santa Eukaristiya sa Bug-os nga Bulan sang Mayo” to all clergy, religious communities, lay faithful, and especially catechists across the archdiocese.
The initiative allows for early morning or evening catechism sessions, clustered or home-based catechesis, and small gatherings in chapels — offering parishes the flexibility to adjust schedules in consideration of extreme weather conditions.
“This is not just about returning to tradition. It is a return to formation, communion, and to the very source of our hope,” Billones said. “What matters most is not the form, but the faith. Even in discomfort, we must remain faithful in forming young hearts with Mary and the Eucharist as their guide.”
The archbishop emphasized that the module should be used in all parishes, small communities, households, and Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese of Jaro.
He also urged priests and catechists to exercise discretion in setting the most suitable times for catechism to prioritize children’s health and well-being.
The Archdiocese’s Social Communication Office described the module as “timely and relevant,” noting that it is more than a teaching guide — it is a “pilgrimage of faith” meant to deepen children’s love for the Eucharist and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Communities wishing to use the module are encouraged to coordinate directly with the Archdiocesan Office for Evangelization and Catechesis./PN
