Holy Week activities: Sights, sounds, sojourns for the soul

Holy Week might mean a long holiday for a lot of people who’d be flocking to resorts and other tourist destinations while the city shuts down and everything is at a standstill.

But in this Catholic-majority country, Lent still means a time of reflection and renewal, when the faithful are called upon to strengthen their faith.

For those who are thinking of spending some quiet moments reflecting on the relevance of the Holy Week tradition to modern life, here’s a list of possible retreat places and Lenten activities they could try this year:

Holy Week Triduum

The Ateneo Office of Alumni Relations and Church of the Gesu Liturgical Committee will be holding a Holy Week Triduum Retreat from Maundy Thursday to Black Saturday. While the retreat is primarily intended for alumni of Ateneo, all are welcome to join it. There will also be additional services at Church of the Gesu after the retreat.

Go to https://www.ateneo.edu/alumni/news/alumni-holy-week-triduum-retreat-2018 for details.

Musical Lenten recollection

For those looking for something new, Ilaw, a musical Lenten recollection, might just be what you need. Part musical play, part worship and part reflective Lenten talk, Ilaw will be shown on Maundy Thursday from 9 a.m. to  2 p.m. at Music Museum Greenhills.

Check out https://etickets.ph/index.php?route=event%2Finfo%2F655

Easter recollection

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle will facilitate the Easter Recollection “We Have Seen The Lord”  on April 8 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.  Free tickets for the event can be claimed at Tanging Yaman Stores, St. Paul’s Bookstore, the Chancery and Radio Veritas.

For details, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/1516794345285734/

Holy Week Retreat and Grand Easter Feast

The prayer group The Light of Jesus Family will hold “Deeper: Holy Week Retreat and Grand Easter Feast” on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday at Mall of Asia Arena, and on Easter Sunday at SMX Convention Center.

Among its speakers are Bo Sanchez, Fr. Bob McConaghy, Alvin Barcelona and Adrian Panganiban.

For details, go to https://smtickets.com/events/view/6512

‘Visita Iglesia’

“Visita Iglesia,” which has the faithful visiting seven to 14 churches on Maundy Thursday to reflect on the last moments of Jesus Christ, has also been considered an opportunity to check out some of the most beautiful and historic churches in the country.

Among the more popular and notable churches included in this traditional visit are San Agustin Church and Manila Cathedral in Intramuros; San Sebastian Church in Quiapo; Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat on Mendiola; Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, or Quiapo Church; Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz, or Binondo Church; and Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned in Mandaluyong City.

An online website has also been created for those who  are unable to physically go on the pilgrimage.

For details, go to https://cbcpnews.net/visitaiglesia

‘Senakulo’

Don Bosco Youth Center-Tondo will be presenting a ‘senakulo’ (passion play) titled “Liwanag sa Dilim: Kalinisan, Pagdaralita, Pagtalima,” on March 25-28, 30 and April 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Don Bosco Youth Center Gym. Tickets are available at P10.

Don Bosco Youth Center makes a yearly production of this play, a reenactment of the passion, death and resurrection of Christ, as its response to the continuing call of evangelization. —Mary Beatrice Ponce

For details, go to https://www.facebook.com/stjohnboscotondosenakulo