The memorial continues to grow at 41st and Fraser.
Several vigils have been held in Vancouver since the Lapu-Lapu Day tragedy, but one of the earliest was held the next day, on Sunday (April 27) at St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church.
Rev. Expedito Farinas was interviewed on CBC Radio On the Coast, along with Fr. Francis Galvan of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ladner.
Both have been right on the scene of the terrible event, caring for people, and they offered valuable insights from a Christian perspective on the show.
The CBC host introduced them by saying “the Filipino community is one that is deeply religious and spiritual.” (A Douglas Todd article in the Vancouver Sun noted, “Of the 142,000 Filipinos in Metro Vancouver, the census says 92 per cent are Christian and 70 per cent are Roman Catholic.”)
Fr. Galvan began by describing how he and a “religious sister” had prayed at the site on the way to the interview, including time with a woman who “saw with her own eyes what happened on that evening” and was still deeply shaken. They comforted and prayed for her as she was crying and shaking.
A Vancouver Police Department report stated that “11 people, aged 5 to 65, were killed, and more than two dozen others injured when a man drove an SUV into a crowd of people celebrating the Lapu-Lapu Day festival, near Fraser Street on East 43rd Avenue. . . . The BC Prosecution Service has now charged Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, with eight counts of second degree murder.”
Fr. Galvan said:
I was so sad and I was so shocked at not only hearing it, because we were along that road as well. It’s not only bringing a lot of sadness to everyone, but through her I picked up her own sorrows, and how sad and how heavy it is.
She cried and we cried – but at the same time, we as believers put our minds and hearts beyond the tragedy and we prayed for the victims and continue to pray for those who are in hospitals, and also praying for the members of not only the families of the victims but the Vancouver community and the Canadian community . . .
Expedito and Felly Farinas (image from his Facebook)
Rev. Farinas has had similar experiences. His church remained open all day Sunday (the 27th), “for people who wanted to come and mourn with us, and others, well-wishers in the neighbourhood – not only Christians but other religious groups.”
He explained to visitors what was being celebrated – that Lapu-Lapu was a brave Indigenous man, a heroic symbol of resistance to foreign colonization in the 16th century.
He said:
So it was supposedly a day of great celebration, honouring our heritage, our culture, our tradition, but it turned out to be one of the most horrifying and traumatizing days that our community will never forget.
St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church held a vigil the day after Lapu-Lapu, and will host another one next Sunday. (image from Expedito Farinas Facebook page)
St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church, located just east of Fraser on 50th, and mainly attended by Filipinos, held a vigil on Sunday.
Premier David Eby, Gregor Robertson and other politicians took part in the overflow service.
Eby said, “We all stand together with the Filipino community today. And I know that’s actually the case around the world.”
(CBC News posted a video of David Eby and Mark Carney at a vigil listening to a woman sing ‘Amazing Grace.’)
During the CBC interview, Rev. Farinas was asked why he had introduced the story of Thomas, who doubted the resurrection of Jesus, during the vigil.
He responded:
Because Jesus said, peace be with you. How could we relate that into our lives, because Jesus was saying I’m sending you, so it’s Christians, all believers, were sent out to spread the love that Jesus showed us. That’s the hope that we are spreading. That’s the love that we wanted to show to our people. . . .
[Jesus] said, you believe now that you see me. Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have come to believe. Even if there was doubt in our minds, if we hold on to that love, love that Jesus showed us, we are one of those disciples. That’s what I was trying to say when Jesus said peace be with you.
It’s really hard to think about that peace when the world is in trouble. Each and every one of us has been sent by God, sent by Jesus, to do our part. Whether in a small way or in a big way, we will spread that love. . . .
Fr. Galvan reminded CBC listeners that when we find ourselves in a terrible place we can rely on the risen Lord.
Fr. Galvan agreed, adding:
During this time, it’s Easter season, the joyous season for us who believe in Jesus, because our faith tells us that Jesus’ sacrifice, his death, conquers death itself, and his rising to new life is our hope.
We know that theologically, we know that in terms of expressions of our belief, but like the reverend mentioned earlier, at this time we’re like the Thomases.
It will be very hard to believe in the presence of God when we find ourselves in a terrible place, when we experience fear and sorrows.
But again and again our faith continues to repeat itself, as proclaimed by the witnesses that the Lord is risen. And for those who do not acknowledge it, the Lord himself showed up and the Lord himself became our peace.
Asked whether he has moments of doubt when faced with what happened last Saturday night, Rev. Farinas concluded:
I have faith in Christ, a strong faith in Christ. I still believe that there will be peace on earth, through us, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Go here for the full interview.
Vigils continue
Several nearby churches are still welcoming people for prayer and holding vigils:
- St. Andrew’s Catholic Church will hold a Mass of Remembrance & Healing “for the victims of the Lapu-Lapu Day Tragedy” on Saturday, May 3, 11:30 am.
- Christ City Church (at 43rd and Prince Edward, just a block west of the carnage) has been open for prayer all week (9 am – 4 pm) and will host an evening of prayer (“a time of lamentation and intercession for the families and communities affected by Saturday’s events”) on Saturday, May 3, 7 – 9 pm.
- St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church (just east of Fraser at 50th Prince Albert) will hold another vigil with three other largely-Filipino Anglican churches on Sunday, May 4, 3 pm.
There will be other vigils as well, including memorial masses at Holy Rosary Cathedral in downtown Vancouver (May 2, 5:10 pm) and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (May 3, 9 am).