Free baptism for Josephs, Josephines on Thursday

Do you want your child to be baptized for free? Then name your little one after St. Joseph and head for San Jose Manggagawa Parish Church in Manuguit, Tondo, Manila, on Thursday.

Fr. Bobby Titco, the parish priest, has announced that babies named Joseph or any of its variants such as Jose, Josefa, Josefina and Josephine will be christened free of charge today in honor of the saint’s feast day.

The Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1 which is also Labor Day.

Titco said the parish would host a “Kasalang Bayan” at 9:30 a.m. followed by a “Binyagang Bayan” at 11 a.m. in which babies named after the saint would be baptized free.

He also encouraged all workers to have their tools blessed during the fiesta Masses at 6:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. After these, a “Misa Solemne” will be celebrated by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Bernardino Cortez at 5 p.m.

At the same time, Titco invited parishioners to join the day-long “Palarong Pinoy.”

“Children, teens, adults and even seniors are encouraged to join the games. Prizes are at stake for the winning participants,” he said. Those interested may have their names registered at the youth desk stationed in front of the church.

The San Jose Manggagawa Parish which falls under the canonical jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Manila was founded in July 1966.

It has since catered to the spiritual needs of residents in Manuguit, Obrero and Antipolo—small communities in Tondo where a huge part of the population are laborers—which explains the name chosen for the parish.