Pinoys abroad, Philippine religious group practice devotion online

A group of nine overseas Filipino workers, and a number of Philippine-based devotees to the Sacred Heart of Jesus have found a way to practice their devotion together online.

The feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus 2020 is celebrated on June 19, Friday. Participating OFWs organized a virtual choir, and the Philippine group led the novena, and they unite online to celebrate together. 

"We, nine members who are living abroad decided to come up with a virtual choir presentation so we can gather together to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is not of course our only way to express our devotion but this is very special because this is the only way that we can sing again together," shared Wawee Lavarez, a 40-year-old sales executive in the Unicorn Commercial Brokers-UAE who is also a member of the "Apostleship of Prayer” in St. Pius X Parish in Paco, Manila.

Among with him are Cynthia Naviamos Millar, 48, entrepreneur in the Phil-Aust Food & Millar Courier Service in Australia; Jo-Ann Tobias, 40, housewife in Malaysia; Aizel Regis, 35, law enforcement in the United States of America; Ana Leslie Flores, 47, executive assistant in a real estate agency in Qatar; Ly-Anne Bermejo, 47, accounting assistant in Assistant Ala Carte in the United States of America: Adrian Claude Corpuz, 28, senior consultant in KPMG-Australia; Edgar Muli, 50, sales associate in Clarks/Jashanmal in Kuwait; and Jojo Gavanzo, 53, machine operator in Silfab Solar Inc. in Canada.

“I feel prayers are all the more important now with COVID-19. And for people like us who are away from home, praying and singing provide us comfort and at times gives some peace in our hearts knowing that God will see us through even in the most difficult times. Singing and being one with a community and church family even just virtually provides me with a sense of belonging,” Lavarez added in an interview via Messenger on June 17.

“It also gives us the opportunity to serve God by also praying for others and giving hope to those who need them the most with the use of technology. The world is full of negativity [so] we think that projects like this will somehow be a reprieve from the current challenges. Praying in my opinion is a very powerful tool to fight depression, the latter a potential by-product of long-time quarantine.”

Some other members—30 to 40—that are based in the Philippines are the ones who lead the novena, Lavarez said.

"Last month, we also did a virtual choir presentation entitled 'Lord, here I am' with them offered to frontline workers." —LBG, GMA News