Roving priest blesses parishioners in their own homes

As a priest in the time of a pandemic, Rev. Fr. Eduardo Vasquez needs more than 24 hours in a day to be able to fulfill his duties.

Known as Fr. Ponpon, the Shine of Our Lady of Grace Parish priest in Caloocan City starts his day by celebrating an early online Mass.

After the Mass, he puts on his protective mask and safety suit and starts going around the community.

“Hindi ko maatim na manatili lang sa kwarto sapagkat ng makita ko ang mga basurero, mga journalist, mga doctor, patuloy ang kanilang pagtatrabaho. Isang malaking sampal sa Simbahan kung titigil ako, kung titigil ang mga pari sa pagtatrabaho para sa mahirap,” said Fr. Ponpon.

The community quarantines imposed all over the Philippines limited public gatherings, including Masses and other Church activities.

With GCQ still in place in Caloocan, Fr. Ponpon has taken it upon himself to instead go directly to his parishioners who need to receive the sacraments.

In the morning, he leads a relief distribution at the church for residents hard hit by the pandemic and the lockdowns.

He also teaches them how to grow plants through Project Grace, which means “Garden Ready Always for the Consumption of Everyone.”

“Hindi sapat na bigyan lang sila ng pagkain kung hindi kailangan silang turuan na mag-produce ng sariling pagkain sa mga tahanan,” said Fr. Ponpon.

When the “Stand For Truth” team joined him recently, Fr. Ponpon went to bless the ashes of a resident who had just passed away.

After that, he had to walk through narrow alleyways to get to the house of another family with a baby.

According to the mother, she requested Fr. Ponpon to baptize her baby because apart from the fact that they couldn’t go to church, her child was also sickly. 

“Ngayong sinabi ni Father na medyo prone sila sa sakit kaya napag desisyonan ko po na pabinyagan siya para ano man po ang ano hindi naman po dinadalangin po eh nabinyagan na po siya,” said Arlene Ongriano.

Fr. Ponpon then went on to visit another house to bless a resident who was sick.

“May pangangailangan tayong pisikal pero higit sa lahat may pangangailangan tayong spiritual. Ito ay nagpapalakas sa tao, hindi puro pagkain lang ang ating ibibigay,” he said.

Fr. Ponpon administered the sacraments quietly and quickly so as not to compromise the health of his parishioners.

In the afternoon, he returned to distributing food packs to the homeless members of the community who temporarily stayed in a classroom.

“Si Father maraming beses na siyang pumupunta dito na nagbibigay sa amin ng mga tulong pagkain, relief. Nagpapasalamat po kami roon at talagang natutuwa kami dito dahil napaka-bless namin na nakalayo po kami sa kalsada at tinulungan kami ng Panginoon,” said Remi Nambato, one of the dwellers helped by Fr. Ponpon.

His only motivation, according to Fr. Ponpon, was to give hope.

“Ang motibasyon lang ay magbigay ng pag-asa sa lahat dahil ang kwento ng buhay ng isang tao na naniniwala sa Diyos ay hindi kalungkutan ang ending, ito ay tagumpay, so kahit marami na ang namamatay ngayon, maraming nagugutom, habang may buhay may pag-asa.” – RC, GMA News