Some points to share about Holy Week 2011

"The Resurrection" by Carl H. Bloch

Today,  Easter Sunday,  we had lunch with some family members.  My parents-in-law, my sister-in-law Monina, brother-in-law Ramon Jr and his family, and  my sister Pinky,  her husband and  children Zach, Angel and Joan  visited us at home.  Maita and I were glad to share our home-cooked dishes.

Easter is like Christmas, it is festive.  To me,  it is about  thanksgiving,   having memorable times together with family and  hoping for  change in myself.

As Holy Week comes to a close,  I would like to  write down and share some of my notes that  I took down as my  family commemorated  our Lord's passion,  death and resurrection:

• Last Friday afternoon,  we visited the shrine of Padre Pio in Libis, Quezon City.   It is a very different place to  pray the Stations of the Cross. One can actually carry  a wooden cross, the weight and size of each  cross would depend on an individual's  capacity and daring. There were small, medium, large and the really large crosses to choose from.  That was our second time to visit the shrine and we will keep coming coming back. 
• That Friday evening, we were at Bonifacio HIgh Street to see for ourselves the "interactive" Stations of the Cross put up by a "non-Catholic" group.   The stations were interesting -- it was more of reading insights on each station and performing corresponding  "acts." As long as the group behind it would not recruit  us to cross over to their group,  I think I am fine with  going through  the activity  again.
• Saturday morning,  Maita and I attended the talk by Bishop Chito Tagle D.D. of Imus, Cavite at St. John  Bosco Church in Makati.  Bishop Tagle spoke about his reflection on the topic of Resurrection as written about Pope Benedict XVI in his book "Jesus of Nazareth:  Reflections on the Holy Week."  He defined "Resurrection"  as the "evolutionary leap that changes  reality by bringing a new dimension to human condition."    From his definition, my takeaway is that "my faith, for it to be real,   has to  made operative in the here and now."
• At the end of  Bishop Tagle's talk, Fr. Ting Miciano-- Parish Priest of St. John Bosco Parish-- informed the assembly that in line with 500th anniversary of Catholicism in the the Philippines on 2021-- the parish will be holding more of this kind of talks to help evangelize  Filipino families.
• Easter Vigil Mass liturgy  has 7 readings-- recalling man's salvation history as told in the Old Testament,  one epistle and responsorial psalm before the Gospel is read.  It was a challenge to stay up focused  during the   Easter Vigil Mass that started at 9 p.m. at the Presentation of Child Jesus Parish in BF Paranaque.   It is advisable to take take a long restful nap on Black Saturday if one is decided to attend the Easter Vigil Mass--  wherein  the  annual renewal of baptismal promises is  also included.   Good thing the Easter Vigil Mass was officiated by our Parish Priest Fr Rolly Agustin, who roused us  with his impassioned homily about Easter's promise of new life and beginning  for all.
• We viewed the "Salubong"  or the meeting of Jesus and Mary on Easter morning.  It  is not in the liturgy for  the Eater Vigil Mass but  is a  long-held Filipino tradition that Catholics celebrate faithfully.

May this Easter bring renewal to our hearts and spirits.  GPS.