Reminders about the Holy Week around Pampangga
Holy Week means different things to different people. Some of my friends see it as the longest vacation they’ll get for the summer; so they schedule their beach trips during this time. Others believe this is the best time to catch up on some sleep or some DVDs. But since I am active in church, a lot of the people I know celebrate it through service and through the Catholic traditions we Filipinos love.
I have been lucky enough to belong to provinces (Capiz and Pampangga.) These are where I go home to during the Holy Week. But I have also experienced staying home in Manila. (Manila has less people during this week because everyone seems to be out of town, so staying home isn’t so bad.)
Seeing that we are celebrating Holy Week today, I wanted to share a few ideas on how we can reflect on the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ. In today’s age of the internet and of gadgets, is there a way to celebrate Holy Week meaningfully?
Celebrating Catholic traditions
You can go to Visita Iglesia on Maundy Thursday. Pray and reflect over the Stations of the Cross as you tour different churches in Metro Manila or Luzon. This is a great way to study about the history of our faith, learn about architecture, and reflect on our Lord’s Passion and Death.
Prepare handouts for everyone so that you can all take turns in leading the prayer. I suggest that you also prepare background music for the in-betweens. You can check out music from the Jesuit Music Ministry or Hillsong. Remember, this is not just an ordinary road trip. So keep the atmosphere prayerful and solemn throughout the duration of the trip.
You can also go to your local church to attend the Triduum service for Holy Week. View the Mass of our Lord’s Supper and the ceremony of Washing of the Feet on Maundy Thursday. Priests and lay people re-enact how Jesus showed the world what true servant leadership is and how Jesus humbled himself for us all.
On Good Friday, there are services for the Seven Last Words. A lot of churches invite speakers to share their reflections on this event. In our parish, the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we even include song and dance performances to enhance the atmosphere of reflection. Afterwards, the Veneration of the Cross usually takes place until midnight of that night.
The longest mass in church is celebrated during the evening of Holy Saturday. The Easter Vigil is often overshadowed by the Misa del Gallo (Christmas Eve mass.) But this is an important service we should go to as we celebrate our Lord’s Resurrection.
The Easter Vigil celebrates how Jesus became the Light of the World when he died for all of us. The service begins with all lights turned-off. Seven accounts from the Bible are read. The Gloria and Alleluia are sung once again after the 40 days of Lent. This is also the service when baptism can take place and where adult catechumens are welcomed into the church. It’s a ceremony worth attending.
I have been lucky enough to belong to provinces (Capiz and Pampangga.) These are where I go home to during the Holy Week. But I have also experienced staying home in Manila. (Manila has less people during this week because everyone seems to be out of town, so staying home isn’t so bad.)
Seeing that we are celebrating Holy Week today, I wanted to share a few ideas on how we can reflect on the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ. In today’s age of the internet and of gadgets, is there a way to celebrate Holy Week meaningfully?
Celebrating Catholic traditions
You can go to Visita Iglesia on Maundy Thursday. Pray and reflect over the Stations of the Cross as you tour different churches in Metro Manila or Luzon. This is a great way to study about the history of our faith, learn about architecture, and reflect on our Lord’s Passion and Death.
Prepare handouts for everyone so that you can all take turns in leading the prayer. I suggest that you also prepare background music for the in-betweens. You can check out music from the Jesuit Music Ministry or Hillsong. Remember, this is not just an ordinary road trip. So keep the atmosphere prayerful and solemn throughout the duration of the trip.
You can also go to your local church to attend the Triduum service for Holy Week. View the Mass of our Lord’s Supper and the ceremony of Washing of the Feet on Maundy Thursday. Priests and lay people re-enact how Jesus showed the world what true servant leadership is and how Jesus humbled himself for us all.
On Good Friday, there are services for the Seven Last Words. A lot of churches invite speakers to share their reflections on this event. In our parish, the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we even include song and dance performances to enhance the atmosphere of reflection. Afterwards, the Veneration of the Cross usually takes place until midnight of that night.
The longest mass in church is celebrated during the evening of Holy Saturday. The Easter Vigil is often overshadowed by the Misa del Gallo (Christmas Eve mass.) But this is an important service we should go to as we celebrate our Lord’s Resurrection.
The Easter Vigil celebrates how Jesus became the Light of the World when he died for all of us. The service begins with all lights turned-off. Seven accounts from the Bible are read. The Gloria and Alleluia are sung once again after the 40 days of Lent. This is also the service when baptism can take place and where adult catechumens are welcomed into the church. It’s a ceremony worth attending.
Veneration of the Cross at Sta. Rita, Pampangga (Note: Photo is raw and unedited, and yes there were this many people and the cross was really this big.)
The altar of the Church in Porac ... It is also where "May Bukas pa" og ABS-CBN was shot.
Truly Pinoy Holy Week Ceremonies
If you are lucky enough to have a province to go home to, I suggest that you take this time to travel back. Provinces in the Philippines have different traditions when it comes to celebrating the Holy Week. Besides the reading of the Pasyon, there are also processions and services you can join.
Today, here in Pampangga, I witnessed the bloodletting and the crucifixion of several devotees. These people usually have a panata (pact with God) to undergo the same suffering Christ went through, in exchange for granted prayers or as an act of penitence for the sinful life lived. Having this view of God who requires blood sacrifice is probably rooted to the Pre-Spanish rituals of Filipinos. (Warning: Graphic Photos posted below.)
If you are lucky enough to have a province to go home to, I suggest that you take this time to travel back. Provinces in the Philippines have different traditions when it comes to celebrating the Holy Week. Besides the reading of the Pasyon, there are also processions and services you can join.
Today, here in Pampangga, I witnessed the bloodletting and the crucifixion of several devotees. These people usually have a panata (pact with God) to undergo the same suffering Christ went through, in exchange for granted prayers or as an act of penitence for the sinful life lived. Having this view of God who requires blood sacrifice is probably rooted to the Pre-Spanish rituals of Filipinos. (Warning: Graphic Photos posted below.)
 Devotees walk the "Way of the Cross" before being crucified. |  Flagellants put vinegar in their wounds to ensure it does not get infected and that it is not "malansa". |
Using Technology to strengthen the Faith
If you can’t get out of work or of the house, you can also turn to television or to the computer, to celebrate Holy Week. Stations like TV Maria have Holy Week specials, where you can listen to the Word of God from the comfort of your home.
If you live in a condo and don’t own a television set, you can switch on your internet to view programs via live streaming. Read blogs to nourish your sould. Or you can check out rappler.com’s Holy Week special. They have articles written by Jesuits, Music Videos, and even a Virtual Stations of the Cross.
So remember, you can spend Holy Week any way you choose. But you can make it more meaningful and use the time to truly reflect by joining Catholic traditions, witnessing Pinoy ceremonies or using modern technology to strengthen your faith.
Have a blessed Holy Week!
Bubbly
If you can’t get out of work or of the house, you can also turn to television or to the computer, to celebrate Holy Week. Stations like TV Maria have Holy Week specials, where you can listen to the Word of God from the comfort of your home.
If you live in a condo and don’t own a television set, you can switch on your internet to view programs via live streaming. Read blogs to nourish your sould. Or you can check out rappler.com’s Holy Week special. They have articles written by Jesuits, Music Videos, and even a Virtual Stations of the Cross.
So remember, you can spend Holy Week any way you choose. But you can make it more meaningful and use the time to truly reflect by joining Catholic traditions, witnessing Pinoy ceremonies or using modern technology to strengthen your faith.
Have a blessed Holy Week!
Bubbly
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