Finally! The Special Day of Sharing Oil Movement Psalm 23:5 went to the Church of Quaipo filled with purpose and unexpected blessings.

Sharing Oil Movement (Divine Mercy)

Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil;  my cup overflows.

https://youtu.be/X0yGJUS1AiM?feature=shared

March 11 2026

Yesterday ( March 10 2026 ) was a day filled with purpose and unexpected blessings. Charo, two other friends, and I embarked on a mission to Quiapo, eager to share healing and divine mercy with those in need. We arrived at the Quiapo Church at 5:30 AM, to find only a handful of people attending the Holy Mass. A wave of apprehension washed over me, fearing that our 300 pieces of healing oil and Divine Mercy stampitas might not find enough recipients.

A few minutes later, we decided to begin. I separated from the group and positioned myself on the other side of the church entrance to distribute the Divine Mercy oil. After some time, I rejoined my friends. Since the crowd was still sparse, we decided to wait a couple of hours before resuming our distribution. While we waited, we headed to a nearby fast-food place for a simple meal – rice porridge with vegetables and soy beans, keeping with the Lenten season. This mission to share the oil was a beautiful extension of our Lenten observances.

Once our meal was finished, we returned to our task, and to our amazement, the atmosphere had completely transformed. The church grounds were now bustling with people, and to our surprise, many, especially adults aged 40 and above, approached us specifically asking for the healing oil. We didn't even need to announce, "Free healing oil and Divine Mercy stampita." It felt as if a higher power was guiding them to us. This was truly a miracle, as in less than an hour, all 300 pieces of healing oil were distributed!

I had just five pieces left in my hand when I spotted two nuns in blue habits accompanied by a man wearing a Divine Mercy shirt. My heart fluttered with excitement; I was so eager to ask if they were devotees of Divine Mercy, as I am too. Suddenly, a thought popped into my head: I wanted to meet Maria Elena, a person I deeply admire. I asked them if they knew her, but unfortunately, they didn't. Still, I couldn't resist telling them about Maria Elena, the founder of a sharing oil movement with over 500 members. I expressed my fervent wish to meet her someday.

After such an eventful and fulfilling morning, we headed home early, feeling a mix of exhaustion and hunger. We cooked a simple meal to replenish our energy, and then, with hearts full of gratitude and tired bodies, we parted ways and headed to our respective homes. It was a day that reminded me of the profound impact of faith, compassion, and the surprising ways divine grace manifests.

The morning sun casts golden streams across the small community hall in Metro Manila, where wooden benches are arranged in neat rows facing a simple altar adorned with a framed image of the Divine Mercy. This is the heart of the Sharing Oil Movement, a grassroots initiative rooted in the belief that sacred oil carries not just physical nourishment for the body, but spiritual comfort for the soul.

The oil is accompanied by a quiet prayer for the person who will receive the oil—for healing, strength, or peace in times of trial.

The movement itself is built on the principle of shared blessing. The oil is bought from different countries from, china, vietnam, philippines etc. Ensuring that every drop connects the community to the land and to one another. It is blessed during monthly gatherings dedicated to the Divine Mercy devotion, where participants join in reciting chaplets, sharing testimonies of how the oil has brought comfort to their lives or to those they’ve helped. Walls are lined with handwritten notes—messages of gratitude from families who anointed loved ones during illness, from travelers who carried small vials for protection, and from those who found solace in anointing their homes during difficult times.

In every interaction within the movement, there is a sense of quiet unity. A grandmother teaches a young girl how to hold a jar without spilling, her weathered hands guiding the child’s small fingers. A man in a worn uniform shares how he keeps oil in his pocket to offer to fellow workers facing hardship. There are no formal hierarchies here—only a shared commitment to extending mercy through a simple, tangible gift. As the morning gathering draws to a close, participants exchange nods and gentle smiles, their containers now filled not just with oil, but with the collective warmth of a community bound by faith and care.

The oil moves through the city like a quiet stream—from the community hall to homes, hospitals, workplaces, and places of worship. It is passed from neighbor to neighbor, from friend to stranger, creating invisible threads of connection that weave through the busy streets of Metro Manila. In a world that often feels fragmented, the Sharing Oil Movement stands as a reminder that even the smallest acts of sharing can carry profound meaning, and that divine mercy finds its way into our lives through the simple gestures of care we offer one another.

Sharing Oil Movement (Divine Mercy)

Focus: Its Spiritual Practices and Community Rituals

The heavy wooden doors of the devotion hall swing open to reveal a space bathed in soft candlelight, even as morning light filters through stained glass windows depicting the Divine Mercy image—Jesus with outstretched hands, one pointing to his heart, the other blessing all who enter. At the center of the room, a large brass vessel holds the communal oil, its surface gleaming under the glow of a single white candle that burns day and night. This sacred container is the focal point of the Sharing Oil Movement’s core spiritual practices, where faith takes tangible form in every ritual performed.

The Blessing Ceremony

On the first Saturday of each month, as the sun rises, members gather in silence for the oil-blessing ritual. The lead facilitator begins by reading passages from the Bible that speak of anointing—from the healing of the sick to the consecration of leaders. With hands raised over the brass vessel, they recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and each participant joins in, their voices rising and falling in a steady, rhythmic flow. As the final prayer is spoken, the facilitator dips a sprig of fresh rosemary into the oil and sprinkles small drops across the room, blessing both the space and everyone present. This act symbolizes how mercy is meant to spread outward, touching every corner of the community.

The Act of Sharing

After the blessing, the distribution begins—a practice rooted in the belief that giving and receiving are two sides of the same sacred act. Those who come to receive oil are invited to share a brief intention or prayer if they wish. A young mother speaks softly of her son’s struggle with anxiety; an elderly man asks for strength for his wife recovering from surgery. As their words fill the room, others listen with quiet empathy, and when the oil is poured into their containers, it is done with the knowledge that it carries the prayers of the entire community. Some members come not to receive, but to give—bringing bottles of oil they’ve prepared at home, adding to the communal supply as a sign of their commitment to sustaining the movement.

The Ritual of Anointing

The movement teaches a simple yet meaningful way to use the oil, shared during brief workshops held after each gathering. Participants learn to anoint themselves or others with a single drop on the forehead, palms, or over the heart, while praying: “By this oil, may the Divine Mercy touch your body, calm your mind, and fill your soul.” Many carry small, handcrafted wooden boxes holding their oil vials, using them in moments of stress, before important decisions, or when visiting those in need. In hospitals across Metro Manila, volunteers from the movement offer to anoint patients with their permission, bringing a moment of peace to busy wards.

The Bond of Community

Beyond formal rituals, spiritual practice in the movement extends to daily life. Members are encouraged to check in on one another, to offer oil and prayer to neighbors facing hardship, and to gather informally for small devotion groups in homes and local cafes. These gatherings often begin with sharing how the oil has been a source of comfort—stories of sleep returning to restless nights, of tensions easing between loved ones, of hope found in dark moments. Each story strengthens the community’s bond and reinforces their belief that mercy is not just a concept, but a living force passed from one person to another through shared care.

As the day’s gathering ends, participants leave with their containers of oil, the amber liquid catching the afternoon light as they make their way through the bustling streets of the city. The movement’s practices remind them that even in the midst of urban life’s chaos, there is space for sacred ritual, for connection, and for the gentle work of sharing mercy one drop at a time.

Until Next Time,

Yuna