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If you put love on everything you do, your deeds will yield nothing but for a one noble cause!
love.
These learnings prove that if
As a pastor, in what way are you challenged by COVID-19 crisis? we will just be positive enough
Being a parish priest for the first time has never been hard for me given to think of what we might learn
the COVID-19 pandemic. Just imagine how new this ministry to me and instead of focusing on the
then came this new challenge of global crisis. Though there are still other problems, we can overcome
people who do not believe in this pandemic, I can testify to its alarming this crisis. Waiting for this
consequences as someone who has experienced its horrors — it has pandemic to be over is not just
been affecting everyone around my community physically, mentally like waiting for the Christmas or
and also spiritually. Sure, everyone was affected by it in whatever form, Lent to come because its end is
but we cannot just settle for its bad effect. We must do things which not certain. And this made me
will help us cope up in the new normal in terms of doing parish works. realize the virtue of patience—
We invest more in presenting our parish activities in social media, so patience in waiting for the right
that we will not lose our connections with our parishioners. Honestly, time. And while waiting, I must
we are also challenged financially and the new processes made it worse. do something rather than just sit
Celebrating the mass and doing services face-to-face is better than that down and watch the days pass
of the virtual way, and I am hoping that vaccines will be distributed as by.
soon as possible so that we can do things normally again.
How does the parish reach out
What has the said crisis taught you? to the poor during the crisis?
There are many things that the COVID-19 has taught me. First, my In this crisis, the parish has
prayer life has improved, and maybe this applies to the lay people also. become more creative in reaching
Because I cannot go outside, I have more time to pray. Since the start out to the poor. We have been
of the spread of the virus, we have been doing Holy Hour everyday using the social media as a new
instead of just doing it on Fridays. We rarely missed having Holy Hour. platform for our parish activities
Moreover, we had a five hour procession of the Blessed Sacrament involving all the parishioners. The
around the community when we celebrated our fiesta; it turned out St. Joseph Table that I mentioned
to be more solemn. Secondly, the importance of family bonding. I, as earlier inspired by Caritas Manila
a religious, treat my co-religious as my family. And during this crisis, is also very helpful and I want
we have more time together to bond and to talk, which we cannot do to share a story about this. Last
normally before because of the busy schedule especially during Sundays. April 13, 2020, Monday, there
Thirdly is the significance of saving money. Just as what the elders say, were so many people outside
“Mag-impok para sa tag-ulan.” This is evident for the priests who have the parish but there was a very
their parish savings in times of need. Parish savings lessen the financial limited stock of food. That time,
burden of any parish. However, things are different in our parish. We I literally fell prostrate in front of
do not have stable income that is why it is very difficult for us to save the Blessed Sacrament praying,
money. And during this time, all we do is trust in God’s grace and ask “St. Joseph, Mama Mary, Jesus,
the intercession of Our Lady of L’Annunziata and St. Joseph. God does paano ito?” And lo and behold,
not forsake us because He sends miracles that even the constructions in the miracle came. The blessings
the parish still continue amidst the crisis. The graces flow continuously came through the intercession
as if God speaks, “Do not worry, I am the Great Provider.” Fourthly, the of St. Joseph and Our Lady of
importance of taking care of nature. I think that nature has taken a L’Annunziata.
break. Our planet has finally breathed again because activities that are
pollutive have been minimized during mandatory home quarantine. Actually, it is because of the
This way, I have realized that we must not abuse the kindness of nature St. Joseph Table that we have
for it will directly affect us. And lastly, bayanihan. In this time of crisis, resources that continue to sustain
I have seen how generous people are. This was clearly shown with and support our personnel who
our St. Joseph Table, a feeding program, that we started last April 11, help us in reaching out and
2020—a project that aims to support the needy through the help of the cooking food for the people. In
parishioners’ donations in whatever form—everyone, including those addition, this project allowed me
who were not active in parish activities before involved themselves to visit almost every house under
during this pandemic. It is very wonderful to see people being united the jurisdiction of our parish.