GKK Sto. Niño Chapel: The Center of Faith and Worship

GKK Sto. Niño Chapel: The Center of Faith and Worship

A chapel served as the home of divine intervention and a unifying ground of a community. The community bond with spiritual and social ties lives in unity and camaraderie. People shared their blessing to other especially the needy and less privileged. A chapel is a living witness of this particular goodness in people's heart. 

Purok 10 which is also known as Purok Sto. Niño was a venue of a unique spiritual experience. Most of its residents were Christians particularly Catholic Christians, where a chapel was their home and shelter. Seeking for miracle and help from God, people of Purok 10 shown an indomitable spirit of serving God and its people. They prayed in unison and served the needy. The people lived in harmony and peace among other.

GKK Sto. Niño Chapel served as a physical representation of spiritual home and place of worship. The chapel became a stronghold of the people's faith and love for God. 

Sto. Niño, the holy child Jesus, was the titular patron saint of Purok 10. The values and character of the Holy Child were imitated by its follower. The belief to Sto. Niño was brought by the pioneering settlers in the area. Their faith in Sto. Niño became their weapon in combatting life trials and temptation. Prayers and undying faith were considered by them as an essential safeguard of their Christian life.

In the early 1970's, an ecclesial community was founded in Purok 10. Its founders and early members were undeniable religious and they planted the seed of faith in the area. This faith was able to flourish and continued to inspire the younger generation of Christians. 

An annual celebration for the feast of Sto. Niño was held in Purok 10 every third Saturday of January. Preparations for the event were solemnly done by a nine days prayers called as novena and a bible service led by a lay minister or layco. The people exerted their efforts to make this event memorable at the same sacramental. In the eve of the fiesta, a religious procession was initiated to show a the Sto. Niño and other religious articles to people. It was a symbolical act to remind people of the faith and mercy from God.

A holy mass was held on the feast day. The parish priest or any priest assigned in Alabel celebrated mass with the people. After the mass, baptismal rites were occasionally done. The priest and its company were traditionally invited to eat a lunch in a host family who volunteered to do it. Every year, a host family volunteered themselves a month before the feast day. Aside from the host family, some residents in purok prepared foods for the visitors and the whole purok became lively and blissful.

Traditions and faith, the main ingredient for a sound and lifeful community. Parents never forget to share this values to the youth, their children. The active participation of the youth in the community especially in spiritual and religious activities was fundamental in shaping a better society.