Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Rosenian Catholics celebrate the annual Holy Week, Christ remembered through faith and devotion
By Magdalyn Grace Derilo, Jersey Nicole Guzman, and Marie Claire Sapanta
Catholics from the City of Santa Rosa participated in the celebration of the Holy Week, also known as Mahal na Araw. This week-long event commemorates the story of Jesus Christ's passion, death, and resurrection. Many Catholics attended church services, participated in processions, and engaged in acts of penance and self-sacrifice during this solemn period.
Commemorating the Christian savior
At the start of the Holy Week on Palm Sunday, March 24, devotees bring their palms to be blessed by the priest to commemorate the Linggo ng Palaspas ng Pagpapakasakit ng Panginoon.
For the second day, Lunes Santo or Holy Monday, the Pabasa ng Mahal na Pasyon was held to commemorate the suffering, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Catholics’ devotion stands out as on Holy Tuesday, March 26, the ceremonial of the Estacion Heneral was held, with Catholic delegates from the Santa Rosa de Lima Parish circled through Brgy. Kanluran and Brgy. Malusak.
It happened today as well, at 9 am, that the people of Santa Rosa de Lima Parish joined the Misa ng Krisma at the Cathedral Parish of San Pablo Unang Ermitanyo, which is one of the most important occasions every Holy Week.
On Holy Wednesday, the Catholic church ends the day with a solemn procession that commences from the Santa Rosa de Lima Parish. The procession, attended by a large crowd of devotees, circled from Brgy. Kanluran to Brgy. Malusak. Despite the intense heat, the devotees prove their strong belief and devotion by participating in the Prusisyon ng Pagpapakasakit ni Hesus.
Remembering the sacrifice
In observance of Maundy Thursday, Catholic delegates gathered around the Santa Rosa de Lima Parish at 5:00 pm for the Misa ng Huling Hapunan at Paghuhugas ng Paa.
After the homily, the Bihilya ng Santisimo na Sakramento began until midnight.
For the devotion of Good Friday, several activities and events occurred, starting with the Pagdiriwang ng Tenebrae at 7:00 am, which was followed by a live-streamed event of the Siete Palabras at the Santo Domingo Church at noon.
Consequently, the homily for the Pagpaparangal sa Banal na Krus commenced at 3:00 pm at the Santa Rosa de Lima Parish. The Benerasyon ng Santo Entierro and Prusisyon ng Paglilibing came after the homily at 6:00 pm.
The Prusisyon ng Paglilibing brought Catholic delegates to march together, starting from Brgy. Kanluran to Brgy. Malusak, which took at least 2 hours of marching. There were two processions, Romano and Aglipay. The procession led by the Santa Rosa de Lima Parish was the Romano procession. On the other hand, the Benerasyon ng Santo Entierro lasted until midnight.
Lamentation and the resurrection
On the other hand, in observance of Holy Saturday, the day marking the burial of Jesus Christ and the open mourning by his disciples for his death, the Parish convened for the traditional Blessing of the Fire and Water ceremony at 7 pm. The event commenced with a solemn mass, followed by the ceremony of Holy Fire.
Concluding the Holy Week festivities with Easter Sunday, also recognized as Resurrection Day, Rosanians congregated at the Santa Rosa de Lima Parish to participate in a mass officiated by the church. Throughout the day, a total of seven masses were conducted to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
With reports from Lance Ariel Bustos