Surrey: OLGC Parish Experiences a Joyful June

By Fr. Samson D. Antony, SDB

(Surrey, BC – June 26) – All good things come to an end, and the 2022-23 school year has seen the dusk of its annual features. Our Lady of Good Counsel (OLGC) Elementary School had its seventh-grade graduation day on Tuesday, June 13. A solemn Mass was celebrated for the grads, their parents, parishioners, and well-wishers at 9:00 am PT. Frs. George, John, and Samson concelebrated. After the Mass, awards were given to students for the year's best performances in various sports and cultural events in the school auditorium. A special lunch followed for the 31 students, parents, some teachers, FMAs, and SDBs.

On Saturday, June 24, OLGC Parish celebrated a Mass that saw a "mass wedding." Bishop Michael Miller (Vancouver Diocese) consented to grace the Mass and wed eight couples from various parishes of his diocese. The event took place from 1:00 to 2:45 pm PT. About five pastors and two deacons assisted the bishop since the couples belonged to those parishes. After the wedding, there was a short reception at the Don Bosco Youth Center (DBYC) gym for all the couples and their relatives sponsored by the diocese.

A farewell party for OLGC Rector Fr. George Atok and Vice-Rector Fr. Samson D. "Sam" Antony also took place on Saturday, June 24. The gathering took place at the DBYC gym from 6:15 to 9:00 pm PT. Various groups of the parish expressed their gratitude and appreciation for Fr. George and Fr. Sam. There were dinner, cake, party songs, and a line dance. At the end of the party, both priests gave a parting message. Fr. John the pastor gave a vote of thanks to all the organizers, and we concluded the day with a hymn, prayer, and blessings.

The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. OLGC Parish highlighted the devotion with the procession carrying the icon of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and concluding with the prayers and blessings at the DBYC gym organized by the Phillipinos’ Tagalog-Sunday-Mass group. It concluded with dinner and felicitation for Fr. George Atok.