Palm Sunday ushers in Holy Week observance

MANILA, Philippines — Officials of the Catholic Church yesterday urged the faithful to usher in their Holy Week observance this year by attending Palm Sunday masses and other activities today in various churches not only all over the country, but also overseas.

Palm Sunday masses at the Manila Cathedral will start at 8 a.m., followed by the 10 a.m. mass to be presided over by Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula and another mass at 6 p.m.

Masses at the Quiapo Church will be from 4 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Schedule of Palm Sunday masses are available on social media pages of Catholic churches nationwide.

Those who wish to attend physical masses may or may not wear their face masks, according to Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Public Affairs Committee executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano.

Secillano said the faithful are encouraged to attend Palm Sunday masses as “it’s a Sunday and it’s a commemoration of the Lord’s Passion.”

“We have mass and the blessing of palms, that’s it. They can wear a mask while attending or they can remove it. That’s their choice. Communion in some dioceses can now be done through the mouth. Other dioceses still do it via hand,” he added.

The prelate emphasized that the faithful should welcome Jesus Christ in their lives as He protects the people, being “the Lord and the Savior.”

“Do not doubt Him even when things get difficult. Hold on to Him no matter what because at the end of the day, He is the only one capable of giving us the life of glory, life with God in eternity,” Secillano said when asked about the lessons that the Palm Sunday brings to the people.

There will be regular Palm Sunday masses today at Quiapo Church, but a “grand entrance” to re-enact the entrance of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem will be set up, according to the church’s spokesman Fr. Earl Valdez.

“Palm Sunday is the beginning of ‘Mahal na Araw,’ when we commemorate Jesus’ return and entrance to Jerusalem, where he faced his Passion and Crucifixion toward His Resurrection,” Valdez said in Filipino in a Viber message to journalists.

“The message of Palm Sunday is recognizing and honoring Jesus Christ as our Lord, King and Savior, after going through his Passion and Death because of His message and lessons. Beyond all of these is experiencing His Resurrection,” he added.

Nuestra Señora dela Soledad parish priest Douglas Badong echoed Valdez’s sentiments as the former urged the faithful to attend Sunday masses nationwide and bring their palm fronds for the blessing.

In another development, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma has issued a circular, reminding the clergy, religious and the faithful of the Archdiocese of Cebu that the Holy Communion “may now be given on the tongue,” but said the communion on the hand is still an option.

Palma said the faithful are still encouraged to make the “gesture of genuflection” during the adoration of the cross on Friday before the cross, instead of kissing and touching it as he reminded people that they are permitted to touch the images, but not to kiss it.

He added that wearing face masks is now optional while pastors and church personnel are still encouraged to provide sanitation materials, such as alcohol, at the main door of the church.