Aside from the virus, kindness is also contagious.
The Casiciaco Recoletos Seminary (Cares) has launched the CaReS Kindness Station that had 64 indigent families as initial beneficiaries.
The beneficiaries received rice, bread, vegetables, spices, eggs, meat, and toiletries, among other things.
“People were willing to help despite the pandemic,” said Bro. Eljann Tutanes, a second-year college seminarian and Pastoral Committee chair of Cares.
“It is in these times that we can see the bayanihan spirit of the Filipinos. They were not only concerned for their own needs but also that of others,” added the seminarian-in-charge of the program who shared his elation due to the donors’ generosity.
The station’s opening was facilitated by the seminary’s Pastoral Committee, Cofradia de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, and some volunteers.
The list of beneficiaries was drawn up through cooperation with the barangay officials of San Luis Village and San Roque.
The CaReS Kindness Station is open every Sunday starting May 9 from 9 to 10 a.m.
It is a collaborative effort of different seminary organizations, namely Cofradia de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity, Recollect Augustinian Youth de Baguio, Family Apostolate, Legion of Mary, lay Formators, personnel, benefactors, and seminary friends.
“Kindness Station” is borrowed from the original project of the Augustinian Re-collect International Solidarity Network or Arcores Filipinas.
A week before the inauguration, Rev. Fr. Anthony Irineo, OAR, priest coordinator of the program, read an official letter to the congregation attending the Good Shepherd that announced the inauguration of the event.
“It is a modified version of the community pantry initiative that recently went viral, which started in Maginhawa St., UP Teacher’s Village, Quezon City and it spread to the entire country and abroad,” read Irineo during the announcement before the final blessing.
The spiritual director of Cofradia de Nuestra Señora del Pilar also invited the faithful to donate in the form of cash or goods.
“May our Good Shepherd lead us to the verdant pastures where anyone no longer is in want through our solida-rity and charity. May our Blessed Mother pray with us,” Irineo said. – Jesse Meer Ali-pes
