CBCP on ‘Undas:’ Focus on solemnity, not Halloween gimmicks

MANILA, Philippines – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines called on Filipinos to focus on the solemnity of commemorating All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day.

Rev. Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the CBCP’s Permanent Committee on Public Affairs, rued the public has resorted to “gimmick” to celebrate “Undas.”

“Halloween is not part of the Catholic tradition. This is a commercial activity. This is a gimmick that people do but this is not the teaching of the Church,” Secillano said in mixed English and Filipino.

He urged Filipinos to “focus” on the sacredness of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day.

“We better focus  on the holiness of the celebration. And focusing on the holiness of the celebration means we pray, we go to church, we pay a visit to the dead in the cemetery,” he said.

“These are the essentials of the celebration and not merrymaking with all these Halloween customs, going to the mall,” he added.

In the Philippines, millions of Filipinos troop to the cemeteries across the country on November 1 and 2 to remember and pay their respects to their departed loved ones.  / gsg