Tagle urges Catholics to devote the Lenten season to the poor

With the Roman Catholic faithful observing Ash Wednesday today, kicking off this year’s Lenten observance, Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, called on the Catholic community to devote their time tending to the poor.

“The season of Lent is another opportunity for us to re-center our lives by helping those who are most in need,” he said.

One of the programs he is promoting is the Hapag-Asa Integrated Nutrition (Hapag-Asa) program, which seeks to reduce hunger and malnutrition throughout the country through feeding programs.

During the 40-day observance, Roman Catholic faithful are asked to fast on certain days. Hapag-Asa is calling for churchgoers to donate the money saved from fasting to their FAST2FEED initiative, which provides meals for feeding programs.

“Feeding hungry children can start with our little sacrifice,” said Hapag-Asa Program Director Florinda Lacanlalay./WDJ