Parish gathers kasambahays, workers on St. Martha’s Day

By Myrna Bermudo

Our Lady of Peñafrancia Parish in Naga City celebrated St. Martha’s Day on July 27 gathering 61 kasambahays, housekeepers and other workers. Fr. Felipe Culvera III presided over the Eucharistic celebration attended by the workers who were mostly women. Parish catechists and some officers of the pastoral council were the facilitators of the half-day formation.

“Sometimes, work is tedious. Not to have work is more tedious. Work is a gift from God. With work you learn to appreciate your life and yourself, your self-worth,” said Fr. Culvera in his homily. “Work is also a God-given opportunity. Let us thank God for the opportunity to have a job.”

Fr. Culvera emphasized that the Lord does not tire in providing our needs. “An mga magurang na yaon digdi sige an kayod ta kaipuhan para mas magin maray an buhay. (Parents who are here are always working, they need to work so life will be better. ” Quoting the response for the responsorial psalm, Fr. Culvera said that the Lord does not waver in giving providence: ‘The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.’

The participants who came for the formation were 27 kasambahays, 10 laundry women, 4 house cleaners , 2 padyak drivers, 2 vendors , 2 street sweepers, 2 caregivers , 6 parish workers , 1 nail attendant (manicurist) and a restroom janitress. Every year, through the initiative of the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) in partnership with religious organizations, the parish conducts house to house visitation in pre-identified areas to invite kasambahays and other workers. This year, catechists of the parish headed by Eden Agravante and the PPC led by coordinator Ningning Labay, partnered to invite housekeepers in the barangays of San Felipe, Liboton and Penafrancia. The parish requested their employers to allow the housekeepers to attend.

Kasambahay Day , now St. Martha’s Day, started in 2015 under erstwhile parish priest Fr. Rey Rellora. Labay gave a brief history of the yearly event: “It was a PPC activity but spearheaded by Our Lady of Penafrancia Association (OLPA), the invited kasambahays were brought to Tinandayagan Resort on July 18, 2015. Parish lectors who were the sponsors of the July 30, 2016 Kasambahay Day, conducted the activity in a resort at Carolina, Naga City. OLPA again sponsored in 2017. The Family Ministry and Legion of Mary brought the kasambahays to Spring Valley Resort on July 28, 2018. OLPA opted to facilitate a recollection on July 28, 2019. Parish gatherings were stopped during the pandemic, then on July 29, 2022, it was continued by Fr. Culvera with the Mother Butler Guild Association who facilitated a recollection at the parish hall. The parish catechists facilitated the gathering for a recollection in July 2023 and this year, on July 27, at the parish hall.”

“Pigpadagos mi ini huli ta ini sarong magayon na aktibidad na nagtataong recognition sa mga kasambahay, (We are sustaining this as this is a meaningful activity that gives recognition to household workers,” said Fr. Culvera. St. Martha, whose feast day is on July 29, is the patron saint of kasambahay, cook, care-giver, hotel crew, laundry workers, social workers, mothers, teachers , and all professions rendering services to others.

It will be recalled that Pope Francis has called for continued synodal conversation and communion especially with those who have been tagged as those who “do -not -fit in the Church,” sinners, the poor and the marginalized.

In an inspirational message, the parochial vicar, Fr. Carlo Lukee Villaluz, challenged the participants: “pahalagahan nindo an saindong trabaho. May halaga an trabaho nindo. Iyan balaog nin Dios. Magpasalamat na igwa kamo nin trabaho. Sa pagtrabaho man nindo, iyan regalo man nindo samuya an saindong paglingkod. (Value your work. Your work is meaningful. That is a gift from God. Be grateful that you have work. Through your work, your service is also your gift to us.”

‘An Trabaho regalo kan Dios asin regalo man niato sa Dios asin sa kapwa (Work is God’s gift and it is also our gift to God and others.)’ was emphasized in the catechesis given by Myrna Bermudo. Saying that there should be a balance in one’s everyday life, the parish priest said that one should have a day of rest, aside from the working days. “An Kagurangnan ngani nagpahingalo. Nagpangadyi. (God rested and prayed.) Jesus would often go to a secluded place by himself to pray. Nagtuninong siya para mahaman an misyon na tinao saiy . (He took some rest so he could fulfill his mission.)”

“Prayer is also a form of rest. It need not be long. Upon waking up, make the sign of the cross and ask God for strength and inspiration to do your work. Pray also for your employers. Before sleeping, thank God. By doing this, we will be able to appreciate and diligently do the work entrusted to us,” Fr. Culvera concluded. After the mass, games, intermission program and gift -giving followed, to the delight of the invited kasambahays and workers.

Fr. Felipe Culvera III, parish priest of Our Lady of Peñafrancia preached at the mass on July 27 celebrating St. Martha’s Day that gathered kasambahays and workers. (Photo by Marion Arlante)