Pray for more Laborers

Davao City’s population is 2 million. About 1,400,000 are Catholics. We have about 100 diocesan priests and more that 20 priests belonging to congregations like the Jesuits, Redemptorists, Blessed Sacrament, Apostles of Christ, Society of Divine Vocation, Societas Verbi Divini, etc.

Every Sunday, the 42 parishes celebrate an average of 5 masses. Herein lies the beautiful problem. Western nations with big Catholic populations envy us because on Sundays our churches are filled with parishioners who take Holy Communion. It takes time before the priest can give the sacred host to everyone. Providentially, the church introduced a group called the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. The EMHC’s help in giving the sacred host during Sunday masses thus allowing the mass to be finished on time.

They also help in 1. Giving communion to the sick, 2. Act as altar boys when there are none, 3. Act as the lead group during processions many are PSL’s and PSK’s of the about 1,800 GKK’s. They are appointed by the Archbishop every year. Sending Forth means the parish priest blesses the EMHC’s in a special ceremony.

Today the Sending Forth is made by all the parishes at the same time; to stress that what the EMHC’s do; giving the body of Christ, is a very serious religious act. The harvest is great but the workers are few. Pray for more EMHC’s in the coming years.