The Archdiocese of Manila will be holding a second collection during the six Sundays of the Lenten season starting February 21 to raise funds for Alay Kapwa, the annual Lenten evangelization and fundraising program of the Philippine Church.
The money that will be raised from the Alay Kapwa collection will be used by Caritas Manila, the social action arm of the archdiocese, as emergency fund to respond to calamities.
“Alay Kapwa supports our social services to the poor, for victims of calamities, and for those heavily affected by the pandemic,” said Bishop Broderick Pabillo, apostolic administrator of the archdiocese.
In 2020, the archdiocese was able to extend relief and rehabilitation assistance to urban poor families who were affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the series of typhoons in November.
“We continue to address the hunger and malnutrition of the poor as a result of the pandemic and other calamities,” said Bishop Pabillo.
The prelate said that with the series of disasters the funds got depleted.
“Thus, it is our fervent prayer and hope that we become more generous in supporting the Alay Kapwa campaign,” Bishop Pabillo said in a pastoral letter on February 9.
“In the spirit of love, we are called to participate in the Lenten pillar of almsgiving,” he said, adding that the Lenten evangelization and fundraising program is a way of “expressing our spiritual commitment to be the face of Christ to the poor and marginalized.”
Catholics around the world will mark the start of the Lenten season with the observance of Ash Wednesday on February 17.
