A Day of Faith, Friendship, and Service ( Charo Friend Scapular )

MARCH 9, 2026 | MONDAY

Topic: A Day of Faith, Friendship, and Service

I’ve been meaning to write about today for hours now, even though my body is telling me to rest – my hands are still sore from all the repackaging work, but my heart feels so full that I can’t let this day pass without putting it all down on paper. It started way earlier than usual, at 4:30 in the morning to be exact, when Charo called me from outside my house, her voice bright even in the pre-dawn darkness. We’d planned this day weeks ago: she was finally going to receive the enrollment for her scapular at Polo Alcala Church, and she’d asked me to be there with her every step of the way. I’d gone through the same ceremony myself just last month, so I knew exactly what to expect, and I wanted to make sure she felt calm and prepared for this beautiful moment in her faith journey.

The drive to the church was quiet, with only the hum of the car engine and the occasional sound of roosters crowing as the sky slowly began to lighten from deep indigo to soft purple and then warm gold. When we arrived at Polo Alcala Church, the morning air was cool and carried the faint scent of incense from the early morning preparations. We found a spot near the front pews so she could see everything clearly, and as the holy mass began, I watched her face – she had her eyes closed for most of the prayers, her hands clasped tightly, and I could tell she was soaking in every word the priest spoke. The mass felt especially meaningful today, maybe because it was during Lent, a time when we all turn inward to reflect on our faith and our purpose. The readings focused on mercy and conversion, which seemed to tie perfectly into everything we had planned for the day.

As soon as mass concluded, I took Charo’s hand and led her to the side in front of the altar, where we waited patiently for the priest to finish greeting other parishioners. When it was our turn, I introduced Charo and explained that she was ready to be enrolled in her scapular. The priest smiled warmly, asked her about why she’d chosen to take this step, and then began the beautiful prayer of enrollment. He blessed the scapular, placed it gently over her shoulders, and reminded her of the promises and protections it represents. Seeing the look of peace on her face as she received the blessing made my own eyes well up – there’s something so special about sharing in a loved one’s spiritual milestones, knowing that you’re both walking the same path of faith.

After the ceremony, we decided to look around the church’s small gift shop, and that’s when I spotted them – two beautiful portraits that seemed to call out to me. The first was of Saint Faustina, her image radiant with the Divine Mercy symbol that I’ve devoted myself to for years. The second was of Our Lady of Fatima, whose message of conversion and repentance has been weighing heavily on my heart lately, especially as I pray for the souls of sinners during Lent. I didn’t hesitate for a moment – I bought both portraits, knowing they’d find a perfect place on my prayer altar at home, where I can look at them every day and feel their intercession. The shopkeeper wrapped them carefully in brown paper, and I held them close to my chest as we walked out of the church, feeling like I’d been given a little piece of heaven to take home with me.

It was already around 7am by the time we left the church grounds, and we both realized we hadn’t eaten anything since the night before. Since it’s Lent, we knew we couldn’t have any meat, so we headed straight to the local market to pick up ingredients for lunch. The market was already bustling with activity – vendors calling out their prices, shoppers haggling gently, and the air filled with the fresh smells of seafood and produce. We found a stall with the freshest tilapia I’d seen in weeks, so we bought two large fish to fry. Then we picked out all the vegetables we needed for pakbet – eggplant, bitter melon, okra, tomatoes, and string beans – along with some fermented fish paste to give the dish its signature tangy flavor. Charo even picked up some fresh calamansi to squeeze over the fried fish, saying it would make everything taste even better.

When we got back to my place, we got straight to work in the kitchen. I heated up the oil for frying, and Charo carefully cleaned and seasoned the fish, making sure every inch was coated in salt and pepper. The sound of the fish sizzling in the pan filled the house, and soon the delicious aroma was making my stomach growl. While the fish cooked, we prepared the pakbet, cutting up the vegetables just the way my grandmother taught me – not too small, so they still have a little crunch when you bite into them. We sautéed garlic and onions until they were golden brown, added the fermented fish paste, and then tossed in the vegetables one by one, letting them cook slowly over low heat. By the time everything was ready, the sun was high in the sky, and we sat down at the dining table to eat, saying a prayer of thanks for the food and for the beautiful morning we’d shared.

I barely had time to finish my lunch before I remembered the big task we had ahead of us: the Divine Mercy Sharing Oil Mission. I’d been collecting and preparing all the spiritual items for weeks, and we still had over 200 sets to repackage into individual plastic bags. I cleared off the dining table and brought out all the supplies – small bottles of healing oil that had been blessed by the priest, Divine Mercy stampitas (holy cards), prayer booklets, scapulars, and small medals of Jesus and Saint Faustina. Charo didn’t even need to be asked – she washed her hands and sat right down next to me, helping me sort and pack each item with care. We worked in comfortable silence for hours, occasionally pausing to say a quick prayer for the person who would receive each set, hoping that these small gifts would bring them comfort, healing, and a deeper connection to the Divine Mercy message.

As I write this now, we still haven’t finished – there are probably 50 more sets left to pack, and my back is starting to ache from sitting for so long. But even though I’m tired, I feel an incredible sense of purpose. Today was a day that tied everything together: supporting a friend in her faith, deepening my own devotion through the portraits I bought, practicing the sacrifices of Lent with our meatless meal, and working to share God’s mercy with others through the mission. I know that when we finally finish repackaging and start distributing the sets, each one will carry a little piece of the love and faith we put into them today.

Until Next Time,

Yuna