Apostleship of Prayer gives hope to women prisoners
Sta. Maria Parish Apostleship of Prayer
members during their outreach program
at the City Jail for Women.
*The group is composed of Filipino-Chinese individuals who are bound by their deep faith and by their unrelenting compassion for those who are physically and emotionally starving, for those who are silently thirsting for prayers, and for those who need spiritual enlightenment
The prisoners of the Iloilo City Jail for Women had special visitors last July 15.
On that day, the Sta. Maria Parish Apostleship of Prayer shared mass, prayers, lunch and songs with them. The former also listened to their stories and such had touched the hearts of the members of this religious community.
Sta. Maria Parish Apostleship of Prayer is a branch of the highly-acclaimed countrywide lay group Apostleship of Prayer. The group is composed of Filipino-Chinese individuals who are bound by their deep faith and by their unrelenting compassion for those who are physically and emotionally starving, for those who are silently thirsting for prayers, and for those who need spiritual enlightenment. Their utmost drive to help others is quantifiable to their perseverance to pray for those who need God's guidance.
How it Started
Long before the year 1969, a number of faithfuls from Sta. Maria gathered a fellowship group which was founded through the common desire to serve the church and its people. There were very few members at the time and there was no president. It was Teresita So whom they considered as the leader of the group back then. Looking for means to help the church, the members of the Apostleship thought of a fund-raising project. The members would decorate the church during special occasions like weddings and baptisms for a cheap price of P50. The proceeds of the said project were endorsed to the parish.
Later on, the population of the Apostleship grew as old members started to recruit new ones. It was during the time when Juanita Onglatco became the first president of the Sta. Maria Parish Apostleship of Prayer. From then on, the population of Sta. Maria Apostleship of Prayer continued to increase as their fellowship and project flourished. The Apostleship grew bigger from eight members to the present 46 active parishioners.
Mission
Sta. Maria Parish Apostleship of Prayer aims to bring the people closer to God. This goal is being realized by the Apostleship through a series of regular outreach programs and activities that cater to the needs of the old, the sick and the poor and the needy.
A Bridge to Heaven
With a strong commitment to serve church and mankind, the Sta. Maria Parish Apostleship of Prayer conducts an annual battery of activities that uphold its mission.
Members of the Apostleship regularly visits the almost-forgotten prisoners at the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center to hold masses and to feed those who once have been astray. This activity is done in part of the celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus every month of June.
The Sta. Maria Parish Apostleship of Prayer also conducts an annual feeding and gift-giving program for the sick indigents of the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) during Christmas season.
Likewise, the members of the Sta. Maria Parish Apostleship of Prayer spend their time with the old people at the Asilo de Molo every September 8, which falls on the Parish Fiesta. There, they feed not only the elderly's starvation for food but also their hunger for spirituality which is said to be revived during the said activity.
Aside from the regular outreach programs, the Sta. Maria Parish Apostleship of Prayer conducts a scheduled meeting every third Sunday of the month. Here, the members plan their activities as well as renew their commitment to the Apostleship through a solemn fellowship and breakfast meeting. They too are involved in various church projects like the improvisation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue flower decoration of the altar every first Friday, yearly decorations of the Altar of Repose and of the altar during Lent. The Apostleship of Prayer dutifully sponsors the 8 to 9 am Sunday masses and the Sacred Heart mass, which is done every first Friday of the month, as well as prays for the sick.
The Sta. Maria Parish Apostleship of Prayer actively participates in a national convention that serves as an avenue for the Apostleship of Prayers from all parts of the archipelago to meet and discuss issues pertaining to faith and other details related to church every two years.
Now and Then
Every three years, the Sta. Maria Parish Apostleship of Prayer elects bona fide members to occupy seats as officers.