Creating spiritually enriching experiences for the Catholic faithful

Karen Cruz, an SM employee from SM City Fairview (fifth from left), snaps a photo after completing their floral arrangement learning session.

The Felicidad T. Sy Foundation (FTSFI), an affiliate of SM Foundation dedicated to promoting Catholic living and supporting various initiatives within the community, has recently rekindled its Sacristy Upkeep & Floral Art in the Service of the Liturgy.

This project aims to enhance the knowledge of religious heads and facilitate the proper care of religious vessels while creating appropriate floral arrangements for different church seasons.

The project, which was temporarily halted during the pandemic, has helped transform some churches and SM Malls with chapels into sacred places for worship for shoppers, tenants, and other clients.

The project’s revival has brought renewed vigor to the training sessions, providing participants with the essential skills and knowledge to enhance the liturgical experience for the faithful. FTSFI has also held spiritual recollections, lector’s formations, lector’s renewal, and various learning sessions to enrich the Catholic faith.

Deepening faith, finding life’s work

Karen Cruz, a supervisor from SM City Fairview is one of the many employees joining FTSFI’s learning sessions. She joined the religious committee of the SM group in 2006, which paved for a deeper faith and commitment to the Lord.

“For 17 years now, being a member of the religious committee is one of my biggest achievements as an SM employee. Beyond all the blessings and answered prayers, I was able to learn about different floral arrangements based on the Liturgical Celebration and other proper preparations for the Eucharistic Celebrations held at SM,” she said.

“Floral arrangements go beyond design; they symbolize spiritual joy while honoring God,” she added. “Through the activities of FTSFI and being part of this ministry has improved my spiritual life. It allowed me to find my mission. This year, I became a member of the lector commentator ministry in our parish".

(from left) Sr. M. Ruth Nardo and Sr. M. Cecilia Payawal share their passion for floral arrangement in one of FTSFI’s activities for SM employees.

Inspired by FTSFI’s work, Karen now serves at her local parish as a member of the lector-commentator ministry.

Karen proudly shows the floral arrangement output of SM employees

SM employees observe as Sr. M.Ruth Nardo, PDDM leads the lectures on Floral Art at the Service of Liturgy.