A Friend's Birthday Opens Door To My Past
Tess Famorca's birthday at her employer's home, Sep 25, 2021. I've known Tess Famorca as far back as 2014 at St. Therese Church in Courtice where I was asked to start our traditional pre-Christmas Filipino Mass we called "Simbang Gabi" by Mother Ulrica (Former Mother Superior) of the Daughters of St. Mary of Leuca. Tess was one of those who joined and supported the 10 day evening masses we celebrated each year from 2014 during the Advent season. A long time tradition in the Philippines now deferred because of the pandemic. Every night we asked for Sponsors to take care of that day's activity including Offertory and the Fellowship that will follow after; a feast full of various foods and Filipino delicacies for everyone. Tess at that time does not have her family yet. They were still in the Philippines while Tess worked on her requirements for her landed immigrant status. I think one time she told me that her Simbang Gabi prayer intentions was for her family to
