MARIKINA CITY - A day before the national elections, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting or PPCRV volunteers attended the send-off mass that was held at 8:00 am presided by Fr. Sandy Añonuevo. Before the final blessing, they recited the “Panatang Maka-Pilipinas” then afterward, holy water was sprinkled upon them as a tangible sign of blessing for their mission the next day. What is the PPCRV and what does it do?
Oath taking and send-off mass of OLA PPCRV Volunteers presided by Rev. Fr. Sandy Añonuevo last May 8, 2022 at the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned
According to their official website:
“PPCRV is a national parish-based political but non-partisan lay movement that works assiduously for Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful, and Peaceful elections. PPCRV was born from that joyful shock of recognition that we the laity mattered. That we mattered very much. That was in the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II) from January 20 to February 17, 1991.”
It further adds:
“Such gatherings of the Catholic Church hierarchy were previously participated in only by the ordained. But PCP II was different. It invited lay participants, some 145 women, and men from various demographic realities.”
Church's Role during Elections
The Church’s role in the election is first expressed in prayers and the Holy Masses where she prays for an honest, clean, and peaceful elections. This act of constant prayer of the Church is a recognition of the supreme power of God most especially in our secular and societal affairs. However, the Church did not stop only at praying. Furthermore, she intensified her expression of deep love and support for the nation through her service through the PPCRV.
OLA PPCRV Volunteers take action on the schools assisting our voters to help them proceed to their corresponding clustered precincts.
Last Sunday was also the fourth Sunday of Easter which is always celebrated as the “Good Shepherd Sunday”. The Gospel according to John focuses on Jesus as our Good Shepherd. In the readings, we found Jesus saying, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”
Fr. Sandy talked about how to know the True Shepherd as the sheep of His flock. He further shared in his homily that this is made possible through prayer and perseverance in prayer. Prayer is, after all, our first and foremost communication with God who is our Good Shepherd. Now, as we are at the critical point of choosing who will govern our country for the next several years, it is something that we need to reflect upon with God as our Model.
(Photos/Gabriel Cedrick Victorino and Dan Raphael Cruz)
