Celebration of Mahal Na Araw 2020
Sunday “Araw ng Palaspas”, April 5, 2020, is the first time since World War II that there would have been no public celebration of Palm Sunday, the day commemorating the triumphant arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem before His crucifixion.
Catholics began the most “spiritually charged week” of the year, the Holy Week, without the blessing palms and with empty churches amid the enhanced community quarantine implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“Kakaiba talaga ang Semana Santa para sa atin. At ngayong taon ay lalong kakaiba ito,” said Bishop Broderick Pabillo, administrator of the Manila Archdiocese.
“And daming mami-miss natin. This does not mean though that there is no Holy Week. Patuloy pa rin and Semana Santa,” the bishop underscored.
This year will be different but the entire Catholic Church will continue the commemoration, he said.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines earlier urged the public to stay home during Palm Sunday and just follow church activities online or on television due to the threat from the COVID-19.
Priests will go around the streets of their parishes during Palm Sunday to bless palm fronds of the faithful in front of their homes, the CBCP said.
CBCP spokesperson Fr. Jerome Secillano said Filipinos may hold their palm branches while the priest passes by and recites the prayer of blessing of palms.
During Semana Santa 2020, San Sebastian Cathedral Lipa City Celebrated Holy Week with the help of an online platform like a Facebook Page to reach Lipenos and celebrate Semana Santa 2020.
San Sebastian Cathedral Lipa City – Archdiocese of Lipa announces the schedule of celebrations of Holy Week thru Facebook and the schedule of Online Mass up to this day.
Mahal na Araw 2021
Fast Forward, Holy Week this year 2021 like other past Holy Week is celebrated in a unique way. The IATF announced the guidelines for religious gatherings backed up by Lipa City Government. Only 30% venue capacity will be allowed. Religious activities like Penitentia, Visita Iglesia, and Prosisyon will be prohibited.
- Penitentia is a ritual performed by some of our locals who want to repent for their sins and wrongdoings, some people do penitensya to appreciate the sacrifice of Christ. Those who perform the penitensya/penance inflict wounds on their back, some are carrying a statue of a saint and some carry the cross and some of them are being crucified on the cross.
- Visita Iglesia (Spanish for “church visit”, also known as the Seven Churches Visitation). Throughout the day, worshipers pray the Stations of the Cross inside or outside the church, while at night, the faithful pay obeisance and perform supplications to the Blessed Sacrament within the Altar of Repose.
- Prusisyon is to march in procession, to walk proudly as if in a parade.
LASAC (Lipa Archdiocesan Social Action Commission) a non-profit organization based in Lipa City offered some ways to serve God while staying at home. “There is nothing that can hinder us to show our love for the Lord!” they said.
Prepare Your Home for Prayer
- Create a prayer space
- Schedule a time for your family to gather for prayer
Ways to Pray Together
- Stream a live mass
- Read the mass readings
- Listen to an online homily or reflection
- Pray and act of spiritual communion
Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, I come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You have already come and united with the wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
-St. Alphonsus Liguori in the 18 century
