Celebrating Community and Leadership

On May 25th at 6:30p.m., St. Jude Thaddeus Shrine Parish hosted a significant event for its community: the Sending Forth Ceremony. This special occasion, officiated by the parish priest, Fr. Roy F. Mejias, marked a pivotal moment for the parish’s Gagmay’ng Kristohanong Katilingban and Parish Recognized Center Organizations. A total of 29 GKKs and 26 different ministries, comprising 800 officers and members, actively participated in the Holy Mass.

Leading up to the Sending Forth, the parish conducted a series of evaluation and formation seminars. These sessions were crucial for assessing the current state of the ministries and selecting new officers. This year, the parish is proud to introduce a newly selected Parish Pastoral Council, which includes both seasoned members and newcomers dedicated to serving the community.

During his homily, Fr. Mejias emphasized the importance of the Holy Trinity despite being distinct persons the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all fully and equally God, sharing the same divine essence. He also highlighted five key principles of servant leadership:

1. Humility cultivates open and honest communication.
2. Humble leaders understand how their actions affect others.
3. Humble leaders continuously improve their abilities.
4. Humble leaders make success a team effort.
5. Humble leaders avoid arrogance and entitlement at all costs.

Fr. Mejias emphasized that creating an environment where respect, active listening, and mutual understanding are prioritized is essential. Humble leaders are conscious of their actions towards others and their leadership style positively impacts their team and ministry. Their empathy, willingness to ask for and act upon feedback, commitment to inclusivity, and dedication to both personal and team growth foster a supportive and collaborative environment where everyone can prosper.

After the Holy Mass and the Sending Forth, everyone gathered at the back of the church for a community get-together. Each person brought food to share, creating a festive and communal atmosphere. During the event, there was a short program where the different ministries and their accomplishments were presented. The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) team also acknowledged the past PPC officers by giving them Certificates of Appreciation. (Jeralyn Babet Adegue Palero | St. Jude Shrine Parish SoCCom)