Written By: Martin James Allam
HOLY WEEK 2022. The parishioners stood, recorded and witnessed the “SALUBONG 2022” held outside Mary Mother of God Parish - Imus on Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022.
In the province of Cavite, the Christian Community observes with the celebration of Holy Week which ended on Easter Sunday last April 17, 2022. In preparation of the celebration, 40 days after Ash Wednesday is the Palm Sunday which marks the start of the Holy Week.
For the Holy Monday, people in Cavite have held a “Pabasa”, an uninterrupted chanting of “Pasyon” which narrates the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ which usually starts from 4am and ends before the next day. There are no usual activities held on Tuesday, however, for Holy Wednesday, the Station of the Cross has been held. On Thursday, there was a mass celebration and Washing of the Feet just like what Jesus did. While the Good Friday is about the 7 Last Words and the death of Jesus Christ, Saturday is the blessing of fire and water and that Jesus rose again. Finally, on Sunday is Easter Sunday which includes a dawn procession together with the statue of Mama Mary and the Risen Jesus Christ which will meet across wherein depicts their first meet before dawn after Jesus Christ rose again on the third day. According to a Catholic Christian, holy week is a week of reflection and breather week at the same time. Reflection points out that it makes the people aware of the sacrifices of the Lord Jesus which makes the people reflect about the things they have done, and of how worthy their life is, over the struggles and challenges the life throws. Also, it was defined as a breather week as the week was focused to the Lord which makes the ambiance different from usual that makes people find peace. Moreover, according to a Born Again Christian, it serves as a revival of faith. These days follow the life of Lord Jesus and that revives the faith in a way that people will remember how Lord Jesus saved people from their sins. And that, there is no spiritual death as Lord Jesus rose again on the third day for those who believe in Him.
However, the pandemic caused so much delay in time as the schools, companies, churches, etc. have been forced to stop operations. Because of various lockdowns, many children were forced to stop on their studies, companies have been forced to shut down or to terminate some of their employees. On the other hand, though some of the churches started to do a live streaming of masses, however, the activities and ceremonies particularly in the Holy Week have been canceled or not practiced due to lockdowns, and social distancing. According to a Born Again Christian, the pandemic prohibited their usual activities. Entirely all of the usual activities have been canceled, like having ceremonies inside the church and so on.
The difference between before and during the pandemic is that it is a big factor for the people to be personally and physically present within those activities and ceremonies inside the church. Moreover, according to a Catholic Christian, the limited interaction causes the big difference between before and during the pandemic celebration of Holy Week. The portrayals of the life of Lord Jesus, the Visita Iglesia, and other crowded activities have been postponed. However, they defined that the pandemic celebration of Holy Week is much more significant because of the heavy impact caused by this pandemic to the people in comparison to before. Moreover, the situation now made some of the people feel that many became more attached to the Lord, more than before.
Though this pandemic created heartbreaks due to interruptions of classes, various closing of companies, postponing of activities, and losing of loved ones. However, the pandemic brought many to be more attached, to pray, to give thanks, and to reflect not just in the time of Lent but in all these days. When will the pandemic end? Are we close in stopping the spread of the virus? Are we close in finding the cure? When will we again experience being mask-free outside? Will we ever go back away from this new normal?
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