Summary: During COVID-19, the Filipino American Society of Teaneck gathered via Zoom to continue their tradition of praying the rosary together during the month of May. Teaneck residents Dionisio and Aurora Valones were inspired to bring the community together after the loss of their pet during the quarantine.
Every month of May, friends and families in the community organization Filipino American Society of Teaneck (FAST) gather and pray the rosary at a different family’s house each night for the entire month. A tradition FAST has carried on for 41 years, it is a wonderful time to reflect and spend time together after many months of hibernating for the winter. May is the month traditionally devoted to Mary, the Mother of God and all are invited and encouraged to honor her by participating in this great devotion.
As COVID-19 ushered in a stay-at-home order in March 2020 across the state and eventually across the country, many assumed that FAST’s group of about 200 members would not be able to carry on the tradition, visiting house to house to pray each night. Dionisio and Aurora Valones, who are long time members of FAST, suggested to the May Rosary coordinator, Adela Munsod, that everyone get together virtually on Zoom to continue the tradition of praying the rosary. Most people have to teach their parents how to use the technology, meanwhile, Dionisio and Aurora, retired parents of 4, spent their quarantine teaching many of the older members of FAST how to use teleconferencing for the first time. That did not come very easy!
Dionisio and Aurora were inspired to bring the community together despite the pandemic, after experiencing a loss early in the quarantine. Sadly their 15 year old pet yorkie, Nalu passed away two weeks into the quarantine on March 25. To adjust to a new normal isolated in quarantine while grieving over the loss of their beloved four legged family member was devastating. They channeled their sadness into a productive way to honor Nalu. They realized that although they felt alone, the spirit of those they love is around them which is why they felt it was so important to bring the F.A.ST. community together.
The first night of the 31 day rosary, 32 households (over 70 members) logged into Zoom and could see each other for the first time since quarantine started. You could hear and feel the palpable excitement in each other’s voices as they greeted each other! The excitement faded to a sense of unity and comfort as they settled into a rhythm of reciting prayers in unison, prayers they had recited numerous times over the years, but this time feeling more special as the weight of the times hung in the air.
The prayers started each night with an open opportunity to offer their thanks and petitions. Unfortunately, with Teaneck being the epicenter of COVID-19 in Bergen County, which was the epicenter of NJ, there were many who had been affected by the pandemic. There were two members of FAST and a couple of friends that fell victim to COVID-19. The Filipino community is largely representative of many of the doctors, nurses and frontline workers who put their lives at risk to serve the community during the pandemic. The general theme of the prayers each night was for the continued health and safety of family and friends.
The rosary engaged over 30 to 40 households logging in for the duration of the 31 days in May. On the 31st of May, the month-long virtual rosary culminated in a Benediction of the Holy Sacrament, televised on zoom by Fathers Joseph D’Amico and Danny Pabon at the Church of St Anastasia, Teaneck.
Having a designated time each night to see and greet each other online brought a sense of excitement for the FAST families and friends during a truly unprecedented time. Since the rosary ended, families continue to do contactless drop offs of food and groceries, finding new ways to show up for each other and show support. COVID-19 may have changed how communities come together, but it doesn’t change who we all are. If anything, COVID-19 brought this community closer together.
