Manila archdiocese holds ‘Salubong’ at new home

“SALUBONG”A Risen Christ and a sorrowful Mother Mary meet during the traditional “Salubong” held at dawn of Easter Sunday at Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City. A child dressed as an angel lifted the veil over the Marian statue during the dramatic reenactment held in Catholic churches throughout the country. RICHARD A. REYES

For the first time in decades, the Archdiocese of Manila celebrated Easter Sunday in a temporary new home—San Fernando de Dilao Parish Church in Paco—with a message to the faithful to reexamine their lives and forswear selfishness and greed.

With Manila Cathedral undergoing repairs, Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle held the archdiocese’s Easter Vigil Mass at the Paco church on Saturday night, culminating in the “Salubong” rites at midnight.

In his Easter message, Tagle called on the congregation to rejoice and help “bring about conversion.”

“Easter joy leads us to an examination of our individual and communal lives,” Tagle said. “From the tombs of hunger, ignorance, discrimination, insensitivity, selfishness, greed and pride, let us allow God’s love to rise and be our life.”

The Mass ended with Tagle greeting the congregation “Happy Easter” and the parishioners breaking out into cheers.

The devotees accompanied two floats—one bearing the image of the Risen Christ and the other that of a veiled Virgin Mary—to Merced Street for the “Salubong.”

As children sang, a little girl dressed as an angel drew the black veil from Mary’s face. Fireworks exploded.

The Paco church has been chosen as the archdiocese’s temporary home because of its size, liturgical suitability, ample parking space and proximity to the cathedral.