Lent is a sacred period of fasting, abstinence, and almsgiving, a season for self-reflection and penance. Traditionally, it calls us to repent and prepare ourselves for the joy of Easter.
We might perceive the Lenten disciplines of fasting and abstinence as personal acts of our preparation for the Resurrection, but what if we can go beyond the self and embrace what is also an important pillar of Lenten discipline – almsgiving? With this, we can transform our faith and personal preparation into a witness to that faith.
About a week after its launching, St. Joseph Shrine in Anonas enjoined parishioners to channel their Lenten sacrifices and save through the Saving Sacrifice Pouch project, an initiative whose proceeds will be used for the construction of Kasama Ka, San Jose – Kaagapay Drop-in Center, a facility to cater to Persons in Street Dwelling Situations (PSDS) or commonly referred to as “street dwellers.”
The drop-in center aims to restore the basic human dignity of the PSDS by providing essential services such as hygiene facilities, laundry, a place to rest, and a provision for healthy meals to institutionalize the feeding program of the shrine, Hapag ni San Jose.
It will also strengthen organizing efforts within the sector in partnership with KaSaMaKa Inc. (Kaagapay ng mga Sandigan ng Masang Nasa Kalsada Inc.), enabling the implementation of community-based programs such as livelihood initiatives, capacity-building activities, and organizational development. Furthermore, it aims to sustain continuous leadership development and promote meaningful community participation in advocacy efforts advancing the welfare and rights of PSDS.
Every peso we save from indulging in that usual expensive meal or coffee, or that thing we want at the mall, is an opportunity to donate to the program’s dedicated saving pouch which is available at the shrine’s office from 8:00am to 5:00pm, on Tuesdays until Sundays.
Ate Cristina, one of the leaders of the PSDS along Aurora Blvd., shares her insights on the program,
“…Dati hanggang labas lang kami ng simbahan, ngayon na tinanggap na kami, at may mga proyekto para makatulong sa mga kagaya namin, niyaya ko rin ang aming mga kasama na sumuporta sa ganitong programa bukod sa pagtitika at pagbabalik loob ngayong panahon ng Kuwaresma.”
Beyond almsgiving and dole-outs, the organizing program with the PSDS which started in 2023 highlights the importance of dignity, participation, and collective empowerment. It affirms that PSDS are not merely beneficiaries of charity but partners in change. They are individuals with voices, capacities, and the right to take part in decisions that affect their lives.
Through this program, we go beyond temporary relief into long-term transformation, building structures of support that restore agency, strengthen solidarity, and uphold justice will enliven the teachings of the Church.
As Catholics, caring for the poor finds its ultimate inspiration from Matthew 25:35-40, to put flesh into the so-called “corporal works of mercy”: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, giving drink to the thirsty, and sheltering the homeless. The Church also calls us to go further, as written in Deus Caritas Est. Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that charity must be accompanied by the pursuit of justice. In this spirit, the Saving Sacrifice Pouch becomes more than almsgiving—it is an act of mercy that helps build structures that provide the basic needs of the needy.
From sacrifice to solidarity, transforming the money we save from our lenten sacrifices, we do not just achieve personal penance; we actively participate in building a more just community. We are channeling what we have that might have gone to temporary gratification towards a lasting structure of dignity and hope for those who need it most.
This Lent, not only must we open our hearts, but save our pouches, and turn personal sacrifice into collective solidarity. (Jhorcy T. Diamsin, RSW)