THE parents of the Filipino household service worker Joanna Demafelis, who was reportedly killed by her employers in Kuwait, will be among the 12 people who will have their feet washed by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle on Holy Thursday.
In a statement, the Manila Cathedral said Tagle picked Crisanto and Eva Demafelis to participate in the event to represent the plight of the families of distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFW) abroad.
Joanna Demafelis’s remains were found stuffed in a freezer at her employer’s home in Kuwait last month after she was missing for a year. The incident prompted President Duterte to stop the deployment of OFWs in Kuwait.
Also picked to join in the traditional foot-washing rite is Fr. Teresito “Chito” Soganub, the priest who was held hostage during the Marawi crisis; Irfan Masih and Shazia Irfan, Catholic foreigners who became refugees in the Philippines due to religious persecution in their homeland; couple Danilo and Janet Pelayo, and their daughter Danica, a family who was relocated from Paco, Manila to Cabuyao, Laguna; lumad leaders Isidro Indao and Kaylo Bontolan, who were forced out of their ancestral lands in Mindanao due to its militarization and environmental problems; and Giovanni and Yolicres Badidles, a couple who lived separately for a long time for having separate assignments from the Philippine Navy.
The event will be held during the 5 p.m. Holy Thursday Mass on March 29 at the Manila Cathedral.
Tagle decided to pick migrants, refugees and displaced people for the washing of the feet pursuant to the New Year’s message of Pope Francis expressing concern to the plight of migrants and refugees.
“By rising from the dead Christ invites us to roll away the stones that are blocking our own hearts and imagination, and to share the journey with each other—in particular with the most vulnerable people, such as the migrants,” Tagle said.
The washing of the feet is a traditional Catholic practice done during Holy Thursday to commemorate Jesus’ washing of the feet of His 12 apostles.
Tagle performs the rite by picking people to represent relevant social issues.
Last year Tagle washed the feet of former drug addicts, policemen and families of the victims of summary execution.