(PNA photo by Ben Briones)
MANILA – Catholic Church officials on Tuesday reminded the faithful that the essence of Holy Week activities is about reflection and devotion to faith.
Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Public Affairs Committee (CBCP-PAC), encouraged Catholics to take time to cleanse their spiritual being during Holy Week activities.
“Well, you go to Visita Iglesia it’s a moment to reflect, it’s a moment to pray. It’s not a socialization activity but when you go there, make sure it’s for sacred purposes and not for other practical or mundane purposes,” he said in an interview with reporters.
“It’s about looking at ourselves and making all these sacrifices that we can, at least share in Christ’s passion,” the Catholic priest added.
Visita Iglesia (visit to churches) is a Holy Week tradition among Roman Catholics where they visit seven or more churches to reflect and pray before the Blessed Sacrament in each church.
Among the traditional activities during the Holy Week are via crucis (way of the cross), senakulo (passion play), pabasa (passion reading) and salubong (Easter vigil).
He also urged the faithful to physically participate in the religious activities this week as the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is slowly being controlled.
"You should go to churches physically. They should come to churches. They should participate in liturgical activities in the churches in person," he added.
Secillano also asked them to comply with the existing health protocols of the churches.
"If one parish tells you to wear mask, you have to abide by that parish's rule," he said.
On the other hand, Secillano said churches should still offer Holy Week activities online for particular sectors.
"For the physically impaired, for the old people, for those who could not go to churches, we still have to cater to them by allowing them to participate in the online platforms," he said.
At the height of the pandemic, churches were only holding Holy Week activities online as the people were directed to stay at home.
Meanwhile, CBCP Episcopal Commission on Liturgy (ECL) chairman Bishop Victor Bendico called on the faithful to seek conversion this Holy Week.
"The Holy Week summons us to conversion, to a change of mentality and heart, especially in prayers and charity," he said in a radio interview.
"The Catholic Church still teaches us about restitution... that we are required to make reparation for injustices committed and restore stolen goods to their owner. Let us save our house, our life, through restitution," Bendico added. (PNA)
