Holy Week no time for getaway

CEBU, Philippines -  The highest Roman Catholic Church official in Cebu has appealed to the faithful to reconsider going on a leisurely trip this Holy Week emphasizing that it is a time for reflection and not for going to trips to their favorite destinations.

This was the Lenten message of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma delivered yesterday through the media at the Archbishop’s Palace.

“Ang kwaresma dili panahon sa bakasyon, kundili sa pamalandong,” Palma said.

Contrary to what the Church has been advocating since time immemorial, Catholics all over the country pre-plan and spend this long break from work and school by taking on a trip or getaway to destinations.

These trips usually are far from the meditative environment that is prescribed during the observance of the Holy Week, a reminder of the passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“God gave us the time. It is up to us to spend this. As much as we cannot control how to spend this long weekend, we would encourage that this be a time for meditation,” Palma said appealing to Catholics to forego leisurely trips before Easter Sunday.

Instead, he encouraged the public to visit churches and retreat houses stressing that Cebu is rich in historic and solemn areas of meditation and reflection.

“Ang Cebu adunay daghang mga simbahan ug mga places to meditate and reflect. If we want, we can go to retreat houses in the city since there are many. Above all, we encourage participation in church activities especially in their respective parishes,” Palma stressed.

He then posed a rhetorical question saying “can we afford to go swimming or taking on a vacation when the rest of the Christian world is remembering the death and suffering of Jesus Christ?”

Palma suggested that Catholics choose and find another holiday or long weekend as “another opportunity” to realize their leisure getaway plans.

On the context of fasting and abstinence, Palma reiterated that Catholics are only required to skip meat during Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and to abstain from other worldly pleasure by minimizing exposure or activities that usually eats up their time.

“Fasting is a reminder that we need discipline,” the archbishop said.

Alms giving, on the other hand, is a reflection of the notion that “what we have is a gift from the Lord. And a gift becomes a gift if we share it.”

The more others need, the more we are expected to share that gift, Palma said. (FREEMAN)