Catholic website offers online Lenten retreat

Thursday, February 23, 2012

AN ONLINE Lenten retreat is the additional feature of the Visita Iglesia online of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Media Office.

CBCP Media Office chief Monsignor Pepe Quitorio said the item is especially focus to Filipinos who are abroad particularly seafarers, since there are no churches while they are at sea, and those who are bedridden, who cannot go to church because they are sick.

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"We hope that this online catechesis will be to help not only to satisfy our need to worship but especially to manifest its fruit in being concerned for one another in love and good works," he said during the launch of the website Wednesday afternoon.

The online Lenten retreat will be made available by the First Week of Lent, wherein packets of video reflections that will serve as alternative catechesis to those who will have no chance of attending Lenten retreats; Lenten podcast - these are audio Lenten reflections that may be handy for Filipinos who are bedridden; Lenten blogs - these are Lenten discussions taken from the blogs of bishops, priests and religious and lay faithful.

Bishops and priests will be the retreat masters. The retreat has four topics, which is all about Lent. Each episode is 7 to 10 minutes long.

The Visita Iglesia online is on its 3rd year, it was established in 2010.

He reported that last Holy week 2011, they garnered 150,000 unique visitors and over 1.5 million page loads.

The website also features old Churches, including heritage churches viewed from the historical, architectural and pastoral perspectives; liturgical celebrations that will cover all rituals from Palm Sunday to Easter Vigil; pasyon, which is the traditional passion narrative rendered in chants; the Seven Last Words that will be video streamed live on Good Friday; and stations of the Cross and other Lenten prayers.

This year's theme is derived from the Message for Lent 2012 of the Holy Father: "Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works." (AMN/Sunnex)