Monday, March 17, 2008 Head for church, cardinal appeals
THE Archdiocese of Cebu encourages the Catholic flock to participate in activities the church is offering this Holy Week, instead of going on vacation.
Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, in an earlier interview, stressed this is “precisely the aim of the Holy Week.”
“Let us follow the footsteps of our Lord so that we can internalize the meaning of His life, death and resurrection in our lives and so that we can save our souls,” he said.
He added that he will pray for all the faithful, including himself, so that they will be able to observe the church activities and “be among the first to receive the graces this Holy Week.”
While other priests will be celebrating masses in their parishes, the prelate will be officiating masses at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
On Holy Thursday, Cardinal Vidal will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 4 p.m.
On Good Friday, the annual Siete Palabras, which will integrate the pastoral thrust of the Archdiocese of Cebu—“Contemplating the Face of Jesus in the Bible”—will start at 12 p.m.
The archdiocese explained in its weekly publication Bag-ong Lungsuranon that learning and reflecting on the teachings of Jesus in the Bible are among the concrete ways of showing importance to the sacrifice He made for the people.
During the Siete Palabras , the cathedral’s parish priest Msgr. Roberto Alesna will give the introduction while parochial vicar Rev. Fr. Mhar Balili will expound on the first words (Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing).
He will be followed by Rev. Fr. Marnell Mejia, editor of Bag-ong Lungsuranon, and Msgr. Ruben Labajo, moderator of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Talisay City, for the second and third words, respectively.
Other priests tasked to explain the seven last words of Jesus include Msgr. Rogelio Fuentes, rector of San Carlos Seminary College (fourth last words); Msgr. Cristobal Garcia, chairman of the Archdiocesan Commission on Worship (fifth last words); Msgr. Dennis Villarojo, chairman of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Planning Board (sixth last words); and media liaison officer Msgr. Achilles Dakay on the seventh last words.
Cardinal Vidal will make a summary of the event before he will join in the veneration of the cross at 3 p.m.
He will officiate another mass on Easter Sunday at 5 a.m. at the Cathedral after the Sugat presentation and procession at 4 a.m. (NRC)
