Philippine Bishop Washes Feet of Elderly at Church-Run Home

In a moving expression of faith and service this Holy Week, the Bishop of the Diocese of Calapan, in Oriental Mindoro, Philippines, led the Maundy Thursday liturgy at a Church-run home for the elderly, placing abandoned senior citizens at the heart of the celebration.

Bishop Moises Cuevas presided over the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and the washing of the feet at the Hapag Aruga Foundation, a residential facility caring for neglected and vulnerable older persons. The liturgy re-enacted Christ’s final meal with His disciples, highlighting humility and self-giving love.

Elderly residents, affectionately called “Tatay” and “Nanay,” had their feet washed, an echo of Jesus’ gesture of service, many of them having once lived without family support or caregivers.

Hapag Aruga, a refuge for abandoned elderly in Calapan City, recently strengthened its mission after receiving a Certificate of Registration and License to Operate from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Issued on March 17, 2026, the license recognizes the foundation as a residential-based social work agency serving older persons in the Mimaropa region.

Valid until March 2029, it affirms the facility’s compliance with national standards in administration, financial capability, and program delivery, including health care, nutrition, rehabilitation, and skills training for seniors.

Hapag Aruga is currently in the process of acquiring full Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) accreditation as a social welfare agency that will enable it to further expand partnerships with government, non-government organizations, and private donors.

Founded over a decade ago, Hapag Aruga continues to serve with a mission rooted in Christian compassion—offering not only shelter but a sense of family and dignity to its residents.

"Here, someone is praying for me. I am no longer alone," shared one elderly resident, expressing gratitude for the care she now receives.

For its staff and volunteers, the work is both social and spiritual. “Bringing Christ to the elderly is not a slogan but a daily commitment,” said Fr. Andy Peter Lubi, director of the foundation.

Church leaders emphasized that in a world that often prioritizes youth and productivity, the elderly remain vital witnesses of faith and wisdom. The Maundy Thursday rites, they said, serve as a reminder that caring for the most vulnerable is at the core of the Christian mission.

As Bishop Cuevas washed the feet of the elderly, the gesture became more than a ritual, it stood as a powerful Gospel witness that those often forgotten remain at the center of the Church’s life and mission.