QUEZON City, Feb. 4, 2013—Almost 2,000 runners of different ages experienced a unique fun run organized by Discalced Carmelites in the Philippines at the vicinity of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Shrine Parish in New Manila, on February 3.
Dubbed as “Takbo Para kay Sta. Teresa, Takbo Ko, Dasal Mo”, the run started with a Mass and featured a new twist in running activities by including prayer petitions written in slips of paper placed in the pockets of the armbands the runners wore during the activity.
Running in the wings of prayer. (Photo by Jandel Posion)
Participants experienced running together with priests and nuns not just for physical fitness but also for spiritual well being.
Meg Ramos, OCDS, member of the organizing committee, said the difference in this running event is that a prayer intention is being brought along by the runner.
“The prayer intention which was one element of the run was the most interesting part for the runners who joined. I think that was also one of the reasons why there were many people who took part of the activity which we did not expect,” Ramos said.
Ramos stressed that adding a twist in the running activity helped gather a huge field not just within the New Manila area but also from nearby areas in Quezon City.
She emphasized that the prayer intention was added as part of the run because that is what St. Teresa stand for as the 1st woman doctor of the Church and a doctor of prayer.
Ramos furthered that the event aimed to bring into the consciousness of participants the importance of praying.
At the end of the race, participants dropped their prayer intentions in a huge transparent box.
Unique way of showing one’s devotion
A devotee of St. Teresa of Avila stressed that the activity was one of the ways to show her devotion to the saint.
“We want to show everyone that we are devoted to the saint and one of the forms that we can show it to them is joining this fun run event,” May Ann of Quezon City, whose family also joined the run, said.
Sr. Cecil Cerbo, a nun from the Carmelite Missionaries said that she joined the activity because it was a cause for prayer.
“We Carmelites are known for upholding prayer and promoting it in our life. [The] event’s cause is for prayer and we joined in the spirit of prayer,” the nun added.
Fr. Narciso Reyes, OCD, a member of the parish formation team stressed that the number of people who joined the activity was a very heartwarming response to show one’s devotion to St. Teresa of Avila.
When asked about the prayer intention as a twist for fun run activities, Reyes said that people were motivated to join because of it.
“You put [a spiritual meaning to] an ordinary activity or event, so there is a special intention for the one joining the run, which is a spiritual motive. The prayer intention is also a way for the person’s spiritual awakening, offering an intention and because of it, there was a good aspect of the run,” Reyes added.
The priest is hoping that the activity will help in creating awareness for the 500th year of the birth centenary of St. Teresa of Avila on 2015.
Reyes furthered that aside from the run, there will be other activities and events to create awareness on the saint’s teachings, works and devotion that will be propagated in the country. (Jandel Posion/CBCPNews)
