A time for charity—Arch. Soc
“THIS is the time for lighting our small little candles together to fight the darkness and gloom. This is the time to spread inspiration, to dig for more hope and to send off more positive vibes in the air.”
This was the message of Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas amid growing criticisms on the government over the apparent slow and disorganized relief efforts in areas in the Visayas devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda.
In a statement titled “Sama-Sama Tayo”, Villegas, incoming president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said blaiming and finger-pointing does not help in this “time for charity, urgent charity”.
Villegas stressed that the government cannot do the relief and rehabilitation work alone nor the private sector.
“The NGO’s and communication companies cannot do this alone. The engineers and social workers cannot do this by themselves. We need to help one another. Those who want to help must help together,” he added.
Villegas called on every church group or religious association to directly adopt one parish community in the Diocese of Borongan.
He said there are 32 parishes that may be adopted as sister communities while the Archdiocese of Palo in Leyte has 64 parishes.
“We can adopt one parish and directly help them with relief now and rehabilitation later on,” he said.
The Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan has established links with Saint Mary’s College in Guiuan, Eastern Samar and all relief goods they send will be repacked and dispatched by the Religious of the Virgin Mary in Guiuan.
“Hunger and sickness cannot wait. Do not wait for government. We must open all possibilities rather than get stuck at dead ends or road blocks or broken bridges. We must be aggressive and creative in sending charity,” the Catholic leader said.
Villegas also announced that on November 23 at 6:00 p.m., a national three-minute of silence will be observed nationwide for Yolanda’s victims.
“Let us pause. Pray for the dead. Pray for the living. Atone for our sins. Commit to give. Promise before God to help Samar and Leyte rise up,” he said.–Eva Visperas
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