The parish community continues its tradition of generosity this Christmas Season with the Giving Tree Project. It has been an avenue for our parishioners to concretely share their blessings with the less fortunate as they contribute food items that will allow indigent families to partake of a humble Noche Buena. The project was launched last December 8. Since then, until December 21, parishioners were encouraged to pick off leaves on which various food items that may be donated were listed. The donated food items were distributed among 300 needy families last December 23 after a thanksgiving mass.
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The Formation Ministry, in cooperation with the Public Affairs Ministry and the Basic Ecclesial Communities, organized the first Basic Bible Orientation Seminar held last November 30 at the Delaney Hall. The affair saw 121 participants in attendance who came to learn about the contents of the Bible, to gain an understanding of the importance of the Scriptures, and to learn about the basic steps of using and praying the Bible. Prof. Raoul Roncal from the Institute of Pastoral Development facilitated several group discussion sessions to impart useful insights. It was hoped that the lessons learned from the seminar will equip leaders in the Basic Ecclesial Communities to deepen and strengthen Bible sharing activities among the Ugnayans.
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HAPAG-ASA, the Parish’s feeding program, officially commenced on 16 November 2009. Presently, 46 children residing in Daan Tubo are the main beneficiaries of the first leg of the program which the Parish is conducting in partnership with the Assisi Foundation and with Pondong Pinoy. The feeding sessions are held from Mondays to Fridays from 5 to 6pm by the Social Service and Development Ministry, pastoral worker/s, as well as the volunteer parents from Daan Tubo. This leg of the program will run for six months in Daan Tubo with a free monthly check-up of the beneficiaries so as to monitor the impact of the program on their health.
We sincerely thank all our generous parishioners and donors for their pledges, and we encourage everyone to invite their family and friends to join the Parish in its quest to nourish more bodies and intensify hope in our less fortunate brothers and sisters through HAPAG-ASA even after the Advent Season.
- By Kiboy Tabada and Ily Grace Yumul
