OLLP celebrated GKK Day with assistance to its GKK fire victims

Simultaneous with other parishes in the Archdiocese of Davao, the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Bangkal celebrated GKK Day last 12 June 2022. The GKK Day culminates the three-day celebration with the theme: “GKK gasa sa Dios sa Davao nanag-uban sa panaw sa diwa sa pagkapiniyalan – 50 anyos na sa misyon!”

The first day, June 10, was to remember with thanksgiving the giftedness of the BEC for the past 50 years. On this day, the OLLP extended ‘ayuda’ to 26 families affected by a fire incident that struck the Christ the King GKK of the same parish last June 7, that unfortunately included the house of its PSK Jovet Sabio.

The ‘ayuda’ was given by sponsored by OLLP Virtual Bible Sharing Group, Marian Group, OLLDaMulCo, Saint Joseph the Worker GKK, Holy Rosary GKK, Sacred Heart GKK and Fatima Flores GKK. “It’s hard to be affected by a fire incident yet we are so thankful that many of the GKKs in our parish are truly gifted to give which assistance really helped a lot of our fire victims,” said Diosdado de Leon of Christ the King GKK.

The second day, June 11, was to celebrate joyfully GSLs’ identity as stewards. It was quite a busy day for all GSL in OLLP as they all revisited the past and origin of their respective GKKs.

The third day, June 12, highlighted the main celebration of the culmination of the GKK Day to continue the synodal journey of communion-in-mission through participation, dialogue and co-responsibility. The activity started with the Holy Eucharist in the morning at the San Pedro Cathedral which was participated by some OLLP GSLs along with other GSLs from other parishes. There was also a celebration of the Holy Eucharist on the same day at 11AM at OLLP with all parish GSLs in attendance, administered by OLLP Parish Priest Fr. Henry Campeon.

“Our 50th anniversary is supposedly last 2021 since GKK in Davao City was actually established in 1971,” explained Fr. Campeon during his homily. “Due to pandemic restriction, we were not able to celebrate it last year, that’s why we are celebrating it now to showcase the significance of Gagmay’ng Kristohanong Katilingban in the Catholic Church,” continued Fr. Campeon. The members of the OLLP Parish Pastoral Council, as well as all parish GKK Servant Leaders who are leading the way in the synodal journey of OLLP as stewards in their respective GKKs, were sent forth by the parish priest.

The GKK Day celebration was highlighted with a joint lunch of 25 GKKs joyfully held in the parish gym where the history and origin of each GKK were presented; it was then the first social gathering of the parish after two years of pandemic. “Today we celebrate three important events – the Solemnity of Holy Trinity, the 50th year of GKK, and the Philippine Independence Day,” uttered OLLP Lay Coordinator Bro. Nestor Fruto in his opening and welcome address for the said joint lunch.

“The Holy Trinity has gifted us an opportunity to gather as a community after two long years, a manifestation of the Holy Spirit communicating and inspiring us that, at long last, we are already (almost) liberated from the fear of COVID-19 provided we still follow the minimum health protocol, welcome everyone,” said Bro. Fruto.

The ecclesial activity for the celebration of the 50th year of mission was even extended on Monday, June 13, as OLLP PSAM and PSA GSLs, led by OLLP PSAM Coordinator Ofelia Bautista and OLLP PSA and Finance Coordinator Thelma Bernasor, participated in the Caritas Day along with other parishes held at the Teresian Daughters of Mary in Matina.

The Caritas Day, with a theme: ‘50 of 500 years of Christianity: recognizing, accepting, God’s gift of mission and volunteerism’, was celebrated with the Holy Eucharist officiated by Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, D.D., and was concelebrated by Caritas Director Fr. Voltaire Dimol, along with Fr. Michael Ondras Jr. and Msgr. Julius Rodulfa. Caritas Day celebration also included the Feast of San Antonio de Padua, the birthday of late ABp Antonio Mabutas, and the 50th Anniversary of Caritas. (Vonz M. Hijada, MAT, and Rowena Baldoza Villaflor | OLLP SoCCom)