Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will wash the feet of 12 young people at the Manila Cathedral during a Holy Week ritual, CBCP News reported April 15, 2019.
Those whose feet Tagle will be washing will include a person with cerebral palsy, foreign missionaries, and a delegate to the Vatican youth synod in October 2018.
The young adults “with different backgrounds and experiences” were chosen in line with the Church’s observance of the Year of the Youth.
In view of the coming May 13 elections, the cardinal will also wash the feet of a poll watcher volunteer and a first-time voter.
The washing of the feet commemorates Jesus Christ’s gesture of humility to his disciples before his crucifixion.
Below is the full list of people whose feet Tagle will wash:
- Nicole Anne Perez, a 23-year-old call center agent and an active member of the Parish Youth Ministry of San Roque Parish in Mandaluyong City. She was appointed by Pope Francis as a participant to the 2018 Synod of Bishops on Young People.
- Rafael Villegas, a 22-year-old first-year college student taking up Economics at the Universidad de Manila. He is a volunteer of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting of the National Shrine of St. Michael and the Archangels in San Miguel, Manila.
- Luna Mirafuentes, an 18-year-old college student who will vote for the first time this 2019 midterm elections. She is a member of the Parish Youth Ministry and the Ministry of Greeters and Collectors at San Fernando de Dilao Parish, Paco, Manila.
- Carlito Sapunto, a church volunteer suffering from cerebral palsy. He is also an awarded player of the sport boccia, a ball sport played by people with disability bound by wheelchair.
- Jeffrey Ranola, a 25-year-old youth ministry worker from Parola, Tondo, Manila.
- Sr. Antonisa, MC, a 26-year-old nun of the Missionaries of Charity. She is from Bangladesh and has been in the Philippines for the past five years taking care of poor and abandoned children in the Alay ng Puso House in Del Pan, Binondo, Manila.
- Joel Obreo, a 23-year-old missionary from India. He has been in Manila for 10 months now working for the Ligaya ng Panginoon Community and Christ Youth in Action.
- John Rey Nevado, a 20-year-old and the only child of a security guard and a housewife. He graduated summa cum laude from De La Salle – College of St. Benilde with the degree in Business Administration, Major in Computer Applications, with specialization in Business Analytics. He is the only summa cum laude among Benilde’s graduates this year.
- Jenezis Caliwag, is a 25-year-old staff of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene or Quiapo Church. Being a devotee himself, he works closely with the Hijos de Nazareno, especially with regard to their spiritual formation. He is also a campus youth animator in St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Novaliches.
- Mr. and Mrs. Ferdinand John and Daisy Jane Azogue, both 31 years old, were married last month. Ferdinand John works as a medical representative in Alabang, Muntinlupa and Daisy Jane is a hotel employee. They firmly believe that it is their faith in God that strengthened their relationship and love for each other.
- Jinky Pelopero, a 21-year-old college student at Colegio de San Juan de Letran. She stays with the sisters of Colegio de Santa Rosa in Intramuros and an active member of the Ministry of Greeters and Collectors of the Manila Cathedral.
The Mass on April 18 will mark the eighth time Cardinal Tagle performed the ritual as Manila archbishop.
In the past, he also washed the feet of migrants, women, Muslims, government officials, policemen, and drug surrenderers.
Holy Thursday also marks the start of the paschal triduum that culminates on Easter Sunday.
On Friday, Tagle will preside over the Mass to commemorate the Lord’s Passion at the cathedral. He will also celebrate the Easter Vigil at the cathedral on Saturday night.
