by Alvin Ricafort
Last March 20, the 5th Saturday of Lent, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes – Social Services and Development Ministry (NSOLL-SSDM) launched “Feed My Lamb”, a feeding program whose aim is to provide ready-to-eat-packed-meals intended for our brethren who live on the streets – the informal settlers and beggars within our parish, and other beneficiaries whom God called “the least, the lost, and the last.”
This program was designed to encourage partnership with other lay organizations of the parish who share the same mission: “to be the hand and feet of Christ for those who are in need”.
In this initial activity with Malaya Catholic Charismatic Community as Program Partner, bowls of hot chicken porridge with hardboiled egg and a bottle of water were prepared for 50 persons. Since face-to-face gatherings are prohibited during this pandemic, we drove through nearby streets of the parish and randomly distributed hot meals to the beneficiaries.
The launch of Feed My Lamb Program coincides with the season of Lent, a meaningful time of almsgiving, aside from prayer and fasting.
During this activity, we witnessed how the poor struggle to thrive in their daily lives. Meals were also distributed to those scavenging for garbage and junk items that they could sell with families living along the streets constantly relocating from one sidewalk to another.
As we all face the challenges of this pandemic, our mission to bring Christ to the needy does not hinder our attending online masses and piously observing Christian traditions and ceremonies. Our participation should go beyond the FB live masses, lectures and ZOOM meetings. As stewards of God, we need to be more compassionate, reach out more and love more.
Thank you to the Malaya Catholic Charismatic Community for joining this program. We look forward to engaging more organizations as well as collaborate with private individuals willing to help sustain this program and reach out to more street dwellers in our parish.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.” We invite you and your organization to join the Feed My Lamb Program. Together, we can feed more.
For more information, please contact the Parish Office at +632 87319306.
Thank you very much and God bless you.
#NSOLLPH
