'Simbang Gabi' churchgoers offer prayers for 'Sendong' victims in Quiapo church

Filipino churchgoers offered prayers for the victims of tropical storm "Sendong" (Washi) at a "Simbang Gabi" (predawn Mass) on Tuesday at the Quiapo Church in Manila.

 

Many of the churchgoers also donated to the collections for the victims at the 4 a.m. Mass, according to a report by radio dzBB's Paulo Santos.

 

Several Filipinos were killed in the flash floods brought by "Sendong" last weekend. The floods came before dawn as the victims were sleeping.

 

On Monday, the Manila Archdiocese said it will hold a second collection during Masses from Monday to Christmas Day for the victims of "Sendong."

 

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle issued the directive in a circular to priests, rectors and chaplains in the archdiocese Monday.

 

"In the spirit of Christian solidarity, I request that a second collection be made at all Masses in all parishes, shrines, and communities in the Archdiocese of Manila from today until Christmas Day," he said in his Dec. 19 circular.

 

Such a calamity "saddens us and breaks our hearts, as it struck at the dawn of the Christmas season," he noted.

 

Donations in kind may be sent to Caritas Manila, he added.

 

The Manila Archdiocese covers the eight cities of Manila, Caloocan, Pasay, Quezon, Mandaluyong, Makati, Muntinlupa and Pasig (excluding the districts of Santolan and Rosario), and Parañaque, Malabon, San Juan, Navotas, Las Piñas, Taguig and Pateros, according to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines website. –KG, GMA News