Pope Francis connection

Easter has been really special this year. Pope Francis has brought us great hope and a sense that the Catholic Church will become the religious community as described by the Gospels. Upon his election he was described as living among the people and reaching out to them. That reminded me right away of two friends, Sr. Vincent Borromeo, RGS and Sr. Christine Tan, RGS who not only lived among the disadvantaged in Manila, but also worked with them so that they have their own homes– making them safe from threats of demolition. Sr. Christine is in heaven now; Sr. Vincent continues to stay among the people of barangay Abono and Basak in Cebu City.  Years ago, she lived in Carbon market.

In his inauguration, Pope Francis  advised us not to give in to pessimism and bitterness, pointing out this is what the devil keeps dishing out. This was very soothing for worrisome and fearsome me. My struggle with negativity really got a big push with that remark. I have noticed that the call for us to be a people of hope has been a recurring message of  Pope Francis.

Then the announcement came that he was visiting a facility for youth in conflict with the law. He not only washed their feet but also kissed them.

Among the inmates were two females. That really overwhelmed me. My favorite Gagmayng Kristohanong Katilingban (GKK)-Alay Kapwa activity is our Agape recalling the Last Supper and all the affectionate gestures and words of Jesus. Essentially, we wash each other’s feet as the gospel is read. But Sr. Vincent brings in other meaningful aspects to enrich the ritual. Once she filled the room with fragrance to give us the sense of being immersed in God’s love. This year crosses were prepared first to be attached to us to say we too embrace the cross as Jesus did. Then on the crosses, we wrote the renewal which we were hoping to realize this New Year. In the past years we repeated the reading of the gospel until all of our feet were washed. This year after the reading we sang: Sa pag-higugma ana-a ang Dios  three times; Sa pagpahi-ubos ana-a ang Diosthree times; Sa pagsilbi ana-a ang Dios. This is the Sugbu-anon version of the hymn: “Where charity and love prevail, there God is ever found”. Then we cheerfully sing “Kay kita usa ra sa gugma ni Kristo” as we greet each other.  Then we share the food we have brought:  empanadas from Basak, boiled camote, different kinds of roasted dried fish, spaghetti with tuna (the ingredients of which were sent by supporters from the U. S. ), packs of the special Gene’s salbaro brought by “Idol”.

But maybe what Pope Francis would have liked the most was the Alay Kapwa Stations of the Cross throughout the Pier Area, since he  repeatedly encouraged pastors to go out to the people.

Most of us had a crown of thorns. The various characters – the apostles, Veronica, the women of Jerusalem, Simon, Mary, the angel – wore costumes. For each station, there was a  reading of the gospel, reflection and prayers.

The reading was acted out, mostly by young people. As we walked from station to station we sang usually, Dios namo sa kalooy (God of mercy and compassion). The places  we passed were  areas which had a Bible-sharing group. The cross was marked with  social problems such as drug addiction, demolition, corruption, and others. After the prayers of each station, Mary Magdalene left a flower on the altar prepared by  residents of the area. This was a symbol of her affection. After going through the open streets, we also went into  small streets, even to the middle of a small busy market. We crossed a bridge over an estero. I was quite disturbed by the environmental sanitation but I was impressed by the resourcefulness of the people in managing to have a life in such circumstances. Maybe those who seek to lead the people should accompany us as we retrace Jesus’ journey. The last station was the resurrection. We had the angel  remove Mary’s mourning veil. I have always found this journey with the people and among the people very enriching. We observe the realities and somehow reflect on what we have failed to do as well as what we can still do with people to improve the situation.

Actually, it was Palm Sunday (the first formal ritual presided by Pope Francis) that is very significant in the history of Cebu. The Katipunan in Cebu had planned to rise up on Good Friday. They chose this day because they knew that  firearms of Spanish  colonizers would be empty of bullets on this holy day. But due to the arrests of some  KKK members, the actual encounter was moved forward to Palm Sunday. It was victorious like Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. In fact they succeeded in opening  the prison house and freeing prisoners.  Spanish loyalists chose to gather in Fort San Pedro for  safety. Few areas remained under colonial control. It was April 3, 1898.

The set-up remained until the Spanish were able to send reinforcements. With Holy Week the struggle of the Cebuano revolutionaries against  colonizers with their loyalists continued. Their victorious entry into Cebu City was on Dec.  29, 1898. But, of course, the struggle for genuine freedom and independence continues, so I let the students sing: Ang gubat ni Leon Kilat taas nga pakigbisog; dugay siyang matapos, kita ang motiwas.

And as the song goes for Pope Francis, “We’ve only just began…”