Catholic group feeds Manila's homeless

A Catholic lay group in Tondo, Manila is providing free rice porridge and bread to homeless and beggars every Friday.

Emil Mendoza, one of the volunteers, knows that he can only do so much because some homeless will still go to sleep on an empty stomach.

The group Lugaw ni San Jose (LSJ) has been doing the feeding program near the Quiapo Church for over ten years.

“The Nazareno has always been kind to us, so it is only proper that we return the favor. And being blessed that we are, it only befits us as Catholic Christians to extend charity to our less fortunate brothers and sisters,” Mendoza said.

They provide free meals for breakfast at 6:00 am, lunch at 12:00 noon, and dinner at 6:00 pm.

A young man from Mindanao has availed of the feeding program for two months. He left his hometown to find his luck in Manila and now considers the sidewalk of Quezon Boulevard his home.

Over 100 homeless patiently wait in line everyday to have their bowls filled. Some of them go back to the line to get some food again.

Feeding the hungry is one of the 7 Corporal Works of Mercy which the Catholic Church enjoins all faithful to observe.

The other six are: giving drink to the thirsty; clothing the naked; sheltering the homeless; visiting the sick; visiting the imprisoned; and burying the dead.

These are drawn from the Gospel of Matthew (25:35-36) which reads, “I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you received me in your homes, naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me.’

Source: http://www.cbcpnews.com/cbcpnews/?p=34778

Photo by John Francis Lagman: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jlagman17/10811836486/in/set-72157637579936723