SUNDAY’S BEST. The first communicants queue up before the start of the processional to usher in their first communion rites at the St. Joseph’s Chapel, Archbishop’s residence. (CDN Photo/Junjie Mendoza)
Though baptized a Catholic, 15-year-old Gerry Limpag didn’t know how to pray, let alone make the sign of the cross.
He said all he did was wander the streets and beg so he would have something to eat.
One day, Limpag was found by volunteers who wanted to acquaint him about the basic teachings of the Catholic Church.
Two months later, Limpag says he knows how to pray.
“Now, I know how to pray the “Our Father” and “Hail Mary”. Fr. Carmelo Diola also taught me how to make the sign of the cross,” he said in Bisaya.
Marginalized
Limpag was among the 25 street children who received their first communion from Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.
Wearing while long sleeved polo shirts, a pair of black pants and a pair of black leather shoes, the male communicants, at the beginning of the Mass, walked down the aisle together with some girls who wore white dresses and veil.
Among those in attendance were their parents and police officials led by Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, regional director of Police Regional Office; Senior Supt. Noli Romana, chief of police of Cebu City and retired police general Samson Tucay.
It was Tucay who inspired Fr. Diola to organize the first communion for indigent children that was officiated by Archbishop Palma.
Diola, executive director of the Dilaab Foundation, worked with the police and the Committee on Social Communion for the International Eucharistic Congress to realize the dream of reaching out to the marginalized.
Jesus’s gift
“Pope Francis encouraged the Church to reach out to the poor. He doesn’t want the poor to be left out even from worship. It’s been our dream that every parish will be street children-friendly. I hope parishes will also have this kind of activity,” he said.
The 25 first communicants were composed of indigent children from Barrio Luz in Cebu City and street children roaming around the Fuente Osmeña area.
The children aged 7 to 16 were given a series of catechesis with regard to the Holy Eucharist before their first communion.
During the Mass at the St. Joseph’s Chapel located inside the Archbishop’s Residence in Cebu City last Saturday afternoon,
Palma reminded the first communicants to treasure the Holy Eucharist which is Jesus’ gift to mankind.
Grateful
“This is a significant and joyful day. For the first time, you will receive the Lord through the Holy Communion. You should not forget the date of your first communion,” he said.
Before the Mass ended, two children approached Palma and gave him something for the construction of the Eucharistic Pavilion.
The Pavilion is the venue for the International Eucharistic Congress that will be held in Cebu City from Jan. 24 to 31, 2016.
Limpag’s 47-year-old mother Soprena said she’s very grateful that the Church helped them so streetchildren can receive Holy Communion.
“Dako kaayo ang akong kalipay nga nakakalawat sila. (I’m very grateful that they were able to receive Holy Communion),” she said.
Direction
From now on, Soprena she will make sure that their family will go to Mass especially on Sundays and that she will make an effort to guide her family according to the teachings of the Catholic
Church.
Meljun Alcalde, 15, and one of the first communicants, said he used to just play computer all day and at times joined gambling activities like hantac and tong-its.
“I didn’t have any idea about God before. But now, I know how to pray,” Alcalde said.
Chief Supt. Constantino said was very happy to joined hands with the Church in reaching out to street children.
“These street kids now have a direction in life. If we don’t do anything to help them, they can become a headache to the community,” he said.