MANILA, Philippines — Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle yesterday called on Catholics to practice charity during the Lenten season, which started with the observance of Ash Wednesday yesterday.
In his pastoral letter distributed to parishes under the Archdiocese of Manila, the cardinal urged the faithful to take advantage of the season “to be reconciled and to be renewed by the tenderness of the Father” and “to trace our steps back to the path from which we strayed.”
“This season of Lent, let us recenter our lives on God, who takes the initiative to call us to conversion. Let us deepen our relationship with Him by practicing charity and helping those in need,” Tagle appealed.
“To practice charity is concrete proof that we are striving to follow Jesus and that we are making the gift of ourselves the active principle of Christian life,” the cardinal stressed.
Tagle suggested to the faithful to participate in the Pondo ng Pinoy’s FAST2FEED campaign, which benefits the Hapag-Asa Integrated Nutrition Program.
The cardinal also asked Catholics to practice fasting during the Lenten season and donate their savings to the program of the archdiocese.
“It takes only P1,200 for six months or P10 per day to nourish a hungry and undernourished child,” Tagle said.
Since 2005, Tagle said the Hapag-Asa program has been feeding hungry and undernourished children throughout the country.
For this year, he said they are looking to provide one meal a day to 30,000 children for 120 days.
“The development of their full potential will not be achieved unless they are cared for and fed with nutritious food,” the prelate added.
The 40-day Lenten season, a religious observance in Christianity to honor the passion of Jesus Christ, started on Ash Wednesday and will end on Black Saturday before the celebration of Easter Sunday on April 21.