Christianity’s most somber time spent somberly

LIVESTREAM The Mendoza family of Bagong Silangan village in Quezon City attends Palm Sunday Mass via online broadcasting or livestreaming, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease that has forced the government to put the entire island of Luzon on lockdown. (Photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines — Zenaida Oledan woke up at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday determined to do one thing.

“I want to have my palm fronds blessed,” said the 54-year-old mother of four.

Oledan was among several residents who lined the city streets of Barangay 6 to observe Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week—the most somber time of the year in Christianity.

Going to the community

But unlike in previous years, the Catholic faithful were requested to stay at home in a bid to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, which causes the deadly COVID-19.

Msgr. Erlito Maraya, head priest of Sacred Heart Parish in Tacloban, went out to the community to bless the people’s homemade palm fronds.

Oledan was glad about Maraya’s bringing the Palm Sunday tradition to people’s homes. “At least even during this time of COVID-19, we’re still able to observe Palm Sunday,” she said, holding the palm she had bought.

In Cebu, Archbishop Jose Palma presided over Palm Sunday Mass at an empty Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. But Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia was there to see him consecrate Cebu to the Our Lady of Guadalupe, the island’s patroness.

“In the midst of fear and anxiety caused by COVID-19, even great nations are at a loss about what to do. We have no solution. [The best we can do] is to bend down our knees in prayer,” Palma said in his homily.

Gratitude to medical workers

He expressed gratitude to all medical workers who, he said, were like Jesus who sacrificed his life for the good of many.

“These people exposed themselves to risk and yet they are there. We admire people who are willing to take the risk knowing that life is precious. This is the image of Jesus who offered his life so that others may live,” Palma said.

“In time of COVID, we should be serious in giving value to life. We’re confronted with a serious case and I hope people will follow what authorities are implementing,” he added.

On March 17, Palma ordered the suspension of Masses in Cebu amid increasing COVID-19 cases. He urged parishes in the archdiocese to use technology to bring church services to people, especially those who are in quarantine.

On Negros Island, people attended services — Catholic and Protestant — through television.

Some of them put palm fronds on their gates as a reminder of Palm Sunday.

—WITH A REPORT FROM CARLA GOMEZ