By CBCP News
April 21, 2021
Manila, Philippines
The Catholic bishops’ leadership on Wednesday lauded the community-based initiatives to help the needy amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Archbishop Romulo Valles, president of the bishops’ conference, said current efforts to support needy families with food and other basic goods exemplified the “true bayanihan spirit”.
“We are happy to know that in recent days, in true bayanihan spirit, neighborhoods and communities have organized themselves to help needy families, especially with food and other basic necessities,” he said.
Valles also encouraged parishes and religious communities to carry on their charitable works “even if we are all suffering”.
“Let us again challenge ourselves to continue helping the most needy families in our midst,” the archbishop said.
The CBCP head made the statement as community pantries sprouted across the country.
In the Church, Caritas Philippines’ “Kindness Stations” have been operating in many dioceses.
He then asked the church community to also bring their attention to communities affected by the recent Typhoon “Bising”, “which has compounded the suffering of the people” due to the health crisis.
He said that Caritas Philippines, the Church’s social action arm, has already started bringing assistance to the affected areas.
“The love of Christ compels us to act. It is difficult when all of us have to deal with our own difficulties and sufferings. But our faith in Jesus tells us to look first to those who are most in need,” Valles said.
“I would like to believe that true charity does not stop even when that charity and care come from people who themselves are in great need,” he added.
