Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula has called on the faithful to support “Alay Kapwa,” the Catholic Church’s Lenten program for the poor.
Cardinal Advincula issued his appeal as Christendom marks the First Sunday of Lent on Feb. 18.
His Eminence said that at this time of Lent and in preparation for the Paschal Triduum, the faithful must deepen their compassion and support for the poor and the needy.
Cardinal Advincula said “Alay Kapwa “ has provided assistance to the poor for many years particularly to malnourished children through its feeding program.
“The Church, through Alay Kapwa 2024, seeks to help us live out compassion by sharing our blessings with the needy. Alay Kapwa has long served as a channel for generosity to support our social services to the poor and marginalized victims of calamities and disasters,” said Cardinal Advincula in a pastoral statement.
To help generate more funds for Alay Kapwa, parishes under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Manila will conduct a second collection for six weeks during the Lenten season from Feb. 18 to March 24.
“As we continue to provide social services to the poor, it is our fervent prayer that we support Alay Kapwa 2024,” stressed Cardinal Advincula.
The Church leader said, the Caritas Damayan program of Caritas Manila is focused on providing assistance to the poorest of the poor, to the youth through feeding programs and scholarships, to calamity victims and survivors through livelihood assistance programs.
Radio Veritas president and Caritas Manila executive director Fr. Anton Pascual earlier called on the faithful to join the “Alay Kapwa 40 for 40 Challenge” which requires setting aside P40. a day for the 40 days of Lent that began on Ash Wednesday on Feb. 14 for a total of P1,600 to help feed thousands of malnourished children and calamity survivors.
Meanwhile, the confessional in all churches will be available for longer hours during Lent to give churchgoers more opportunity to avail of the Sacrament of Penance.
The Church encourages the faithful to engage in more charity and missionary work in their local parishes and to receive Holy Communion often.
Also known as Quadragesima Sunday, which means 40th in Latin, the first Sunday of Lent signifies that there are exactly 40 days from Feb. 18 until Good Friday.
On all Sundays of Lent, it has become customary to dispense from fasting and abstinence as Sundays are considered a day of rejoicing, being the day when the Lord resurrected. Sundays are also not counted among the 40 days of Lent.