‘Be Like Jesus’ – Priest

As Christmas draws near, we are reminded that it is the time of the year when people give gifts to their relatives, friends, and loved ones. This particular event of the year gives significance to the act of giving and sharing, not just in terms of worldly possessions, but also compassion, forgiveness, and love. Christmas also reminds us of the greatest gift that God has given us – His only begotten son, Jesus.

In line with this, the San Francisco de Asis Parish spearheaded by Fr. Ariel Celeste, OSJ, organized gift-giving activity, November 27. It’s the second time that the parish had this kind of charity work with the objective to help five poorest of the poor and 30 indigenous families from the 26 GKKs. All in all there were 160 families who benefited from the program.

Packs of rice, bihon, sugar, canned goods, soy sauce, and other grocery items were offered as gifts at the healing mass, concelebrated by Fr. Jolito Marterior, OSJ. He stressed in his homily the importance of sharing blessings with others. Distribution took place after the mass assisted by the Pangulo sa Alagad and the Catholic Women’s League members.

Genuine smiles were evident on the faces of each family members who received the gifts. Some were teary-eyed and were really overwhelmed. It seems that the grocery items that were given to them will not only make them survive for days; they treat these gift items as short escape from the poverty that they are currently experiencing.

According to Hermenegilda Lasaca of GKK San Isidro Labrador, the grocery items really served as big help, since she is currently unemployed. She said: “Daku kayo ug kalipay oy [nga] nahatagan ko ug pinaskuhan kay nakatabang sa amoa labina nga wala koy trabaho; hasta ako bana, masakiton pa.”

Furthermore, Rev. Fr. Ariel Celeste, OSJ told SFDA Social Communications team that as Christians, “we are responsible for the welfare of one another, especially the poor. We must be like Jesus who came here to serve and not to be served. Through helping people, we can serve God and bring ourselves closer to Him.”

Fr. Celeste promised that as long as he is the parish priest of SFDA-Tagakpan, this particular work of charity towards the poor will be continued, not just during the year of the poor, but for the rest of his leadership years.

Hence, everyone is looking forward for another SFDA gift-giving activity next year, which will not only help the poor and needy, but will also make the organizers more merciful towards others.