Contributed photo
SAMAL, Bataan — The Iglesia Filipina Independiente or Aglipayan Church here held Sunday the parochial celebration of the month of the laity with the sub-theme “Iglesyang maligaya sa pagkakaisa, matapat sa misyon sa panahon ng pandemya.”
The celebration started with a Holy Mass in the morning, followed by singing, dancing, and poetry reading by members of the Women of the Philippine Independent Church, Youth of the IFI, and Laymen of IFI.
Participants were reminded to strictly observe safety protocols.
Santa Catalina of Siena parish priest Rev. Fr. Roderick Miranda explained that IFI has designated the month of October to remember and pay tribute to the big role and contribution to the church of the laity composed of the youth, men, and women.
“Ang ‘Buwan ng mga Layko’ ay pagkilala sa mahalagang kontribusyon ng mga mananampalataya sa buhay at misyon ng simbahang malaya, ang Iglesia Filipina Independiente,” the priest said.
“Ang mga obispo, mga pari at layko ay magkakatuwang sa isang misyon upang ipalaganap ang pag-ibig ng Diyos at ipalaganap ang IFI,” he added.
Former Samal Vice-Mayor Fernando Medina in his reflection talked of the role of the laity and the part of labor leader Isabelo delos Reyes in the founding of IFI with first Obispo Maximo Gregorio Aglipay.
Medina is IFI parish council vice-chairman and member of the diocesan council of Bataan and Bulacan.
“Ang mga sakristan, konseho tulad namin, tagaayos ng altar, choir, tagakampana ay mukha ng mga karaniwang layko na naglilingkod sa simbahan,” he said. “Lahat may katangian upang maging layko. Walang monopoly o mag-isang umaangkin bilang layko. We work hand in hand with the clergy.”
There was gift-giving in the afternoon of various grocery packs gathered from donations.
The diocese, including the Santa Catalina of Siena parish in Samal, will be holding an online diocesan celebration of the month of the laity on Oct. 23, 2021.
Local government officials of Samal said they were one with IFI in the celebration for which Father Miranda thanked them for giving importance to the role of the laity in the IFI church.
