Palm Sunday: Do not add to suffering of others

MANILA, Philippines - As Christendom enters Holy Week today, Palm Sunday, an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday called on the faithful not to add to the sufferings of their fellowmen.

Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs (ECPA), said that while Palm Sunday is oftentimes remembered as the glorious arrival of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, it also signals the start of the Holy Week that tells of His suffering, death and resurrection.

Secillano said that it would be unfair for others to suffer from additional pain caused by their fellowmen, as seen in the misery endured by Jesus Christ at the hands of the people who demanded that he be crucified.

Meanwhile, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle urged the faithful to take part in the nationwide Lenten fundraising program Alay Kapwa as the proceeds of the second collection during masses would be used to help the poor and calamity victims.

The Philippines is visited by an average of 20 typhoons a year and it is the poor who suffer most whenever tragedies strike.

In an interview over church-run Radio Veritas, Tagle said he is confident that each parish will contribute to Alay Kapwa.

CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace (NASSA) executive secretary Fr. Edu Gariguez said oftentimes, they are only able to collect a small amount from the various dioceses for the Alay Kapwa program so they rely on the aid given by other countries.