The Women’s Sector of the Diocese (WOPIC) gathered together in its traditional annual thanksgiving at the diocesan Cathedral of the Crucified Lord last November 28. 2020, Saturday. The day’s event was its culminating activity this year capped with an expression of gratitude to God for the women’s blessings, personal and collective, despite the coronavirus pandemic and other challenges brought about by the natural calamities.
The Holy Eucharist, the church’s highest form of service, started the celebration with the diocesan bishop, the Rt. Rev. Vicente Salvador Ballesteros as main celebrant and preacher. Concelebrating with him at the altar were the Very Rev. Msgr. Cesar Emmanuel Ballesteros and the Rev. Sherryl Ann Javier-Bianson. Present at the pews were the rest of the diocesan clergy and the diocesan WOPIC officers and the official representatives (officers) from the parishes and missions. The simple but solemn affair, with health safety protocols observed, was captured on Zoom and beamed to the rest of the diocesan WOPIC members and the diocese-at-large.
Bishop Buddy Ballesteros expounded on the power of gratitude as an avowed expression of appreciation, respect, and devotion of WOPIC for God’s guidance, inspiration, and blessings in this difficult time of crises marked by Covid-19, typhoon Ulysses, and the floods in the Marikina area and Cagayan Valley. He emphasized the importance of thanksgiving and positivity as opposed to complaints which had become prevalent especially since the lockdown period. Ingratitude was never acceptable, according to him, as he cited the example of the leper who was the only one who came back to thank Jesus for his miraculous healing. Likewise, Bishop Buddy also reminded the church-goers of the parents’ dictum to the child of saying “thanks,” which upon adulthood seemed to have been forgotten.
To explain God’s graciousness and abundance which must not be abused, Bishop Buddy illustrated the lessons from the two parables: (1) The two carpenters fixing a roof: One fell off the roof and upon hitting the ground then knelt and gave thanks to God. The second one came to the rescue, and, perplexed, asked the afflicted one why he gave thanks despite his pain. He answered with: “for being kept safe and for not swallowing a hammer,” as he claimed that he swallowed a nail as well. (2) The two angels sent by God to earth to gather the collections in baskets: (a) Angel One collected the basket of petitions, and (b) Angel Two collected the basket of nothing.
Bishop Buddy clarified the mystery and power of gratitude that God’s graciousness was abundantly available for everyone, but must not be abused. He said that people tended to avail only of free services and were nonchalant when they needed nothing. In our current suffering, he also extolled the virtue of giving, “it is better to give than to receive especially to those who are in dire need.” He lauded the WOPIC for being the most stable sector in the IFI and for being forever grateful to God year-in and year-out. Pointing to the Crucified Lord, he expressed that the best thanksgiving was shown by Jesus on the Cross, the thanksgiving image on the Cross. After the Holy Mass, the WOPIC officers also extended their appreciation to the clergy for their guidance and support with gift packs of baked goods made by the ladies in support of their personal livelihood. The morning’s program was capped with distribution of snack-lunch packs either to be eaten at the venue or to take out to their homes.
Resuming at 1:30 PM, the WOPIC program continued with the Zoomed Webinar of the lecture of Deaconess Darlene Caramanzana, program secretary of the Women’s Desk of the United Methodist Church, member-church of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP). Her talk focused on: “Inspiring Women Amidst Pandemic: WOPIC, Go Forth and Serve!” DGMA WOPIC resumes its regular Bible Study conducted and livestreamed every First and Third Sundays of the month and led by their chaplain, the Msgr. Manny Ballesteros. The diocesan WOPIC officers are as follows: President, Aurea E. Lucena; Vice-President, Emy Pamaran; Secretary, Jonalyn Reyes; Treasurer, Ailyn Ajero; and Auditor, Ana Tuano.
