Archdiocese of Manila embarks on ‘penitential walk’ to pray for May polls 

FILE PHOTO: The iconic Manila Cathedral in Intramuros. INQUIRER/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The Archdiocese of Manila is conducting a “penitential walk” on Thursday to pray for voters’ discernment in the May elections.

The activity coincides with the 150th anniversary of the martyrdom of three Catholic priests Mariano Gomez, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, collectively known as Gomburza.

The “penitential walk” started at 9:00 a.m. through a Mass held at the Manila Cathedral presided by Cardinal Jose Advincula.

After the Mass, the walk proceeded from the cathedral to the Gomburza memorial marker at the Luneta Park, towards the Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia in Ermita.

“We particularly pray for our people as we choose our next leaders this coming May. We ask our fellow Filipinos to be ‘maka-Diyos kaya makabayan’ to discern their choice well and prefer leaders who embody and promote the values of the Kingdom of God,” the Archdiocese of Manila said in a statement on Wednesday.

It also said the clergy are doing the activity in homage to the “pious Filipino sense of penitensya (penitence).”

“For us Filipinos, doing acts of penitensya or sacrifice is never just for oneself, but always intercessory, that is, in behalf of others and in solidarity with others,” the Archdiocese of Manila noted.

“As a clergy, we shall make this act of sacrifice not only for our personal piety but also for the sake of our people and in communion with our people,” it added.

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