And this time, according to Santa Remegios parish priest Ambet Dela Cruz, they are working with the youth sector.
He said 25 youth participants recently completed the 14-week special doctrine program, “an undertaking designed to help young people understand true Christian values and meaning.”
Through this program, he said, the young people can spread good morals to other members of the community.
On Feb. 24, hundreds of Tanapag residents joined the prayer rally initiated by the Roman Catholic Church and supported by different Protestant churches and other denominations.
The rally was launched to fight the proliferation of prohibited drugs and gambling, notably poker arcades, which destroy families, Dela Cruz said.
In the following months, the priest said arrests were made by the Department of Public Safety against illegal drug users in the area.
Dela Cruz said their campaign also aims to help illegal drug users, dealers, gamblers and gambling operators stop their self-destructive addictions.
In a separate interview, William “Bill” Lieto, Parish Pastoral Council president, said the prayer rally helped a lot in curbing illegal drugs and gambling in their community.
“After the rally, the gamblers were ashamed because almost all of the residents participated. The residents now are watching those who continue to go gambling,” Lieto said.
He said there’s now more involvement by the community and “we feel more unity among us regardless of religious beliefs.”
Lieto said he is looking forward to the creation of a Neighborhood Watch Task Force in their community.
He said he will ask the leadership of the task force in Saipan to include Tanapag among the program’s possible pilot areas.
