CBCP urges Catholics to celebrate Palm Sunday by going to church and pray

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Sunday reminded the Catholic faithful to go to church and pray to mark the start of Semana Santa or Holy Week.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, CBCP permanent committee on public affairs executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano underscored the importance of opening oneself to Jesus on Palm Sunday, rather than merely bringing the traditional palaspas or palm fronds to church.

“Paanyaya sa mga tao na pumunta tayo ng simbahan, magdasal tayo. Hindi lang ang pagdadala ng palaspas ang mahalaga rito. Mahalaga rito ang pagbubukas natin ng kalooban natin para tanggapin natin si Hesus,” Secillano said.

(I’m inviting the people to go to church and pray. It’s not just the bringing of the palm fronds that is important here. It is also important that we open our hearts to accept Jesus.)

“Lahat naman ng simbahan ngayon ay meron tayong misa. Hopefully kung saan man kayo malapit ay makapagsimba kayo ngayong Linggo ng Palaspas,” he added.

(All the churches now have mass. Hopefully wherever you are, you can go to a church near you this Palm Sunday.)

Palm Sunday commemorates the entry of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem a few days before he was crucified. Jesus was then welcomed by people waving palm branches

The dried palaspas would be collected and burned the following year, with the ash to be used on Ash Wednesday.

In Quiapo Church, there would be hourly masses on Palm Sunday that would last until 8 p.m. Palms brought by devotees are also being blessed.

Mass in Baclaran Church, meanwhile, started as early as 6:30 a.m., and the last one would be at 6:30 p.m.

In Caloocan City, hundreds of Catholics flocked to the San Roque Cathedral early on Sunday. Some churchgoers already had to hear the mass outside the church, while the blessing of the palms was conducted in the church’s parking lot.

Police are patrolling church premises to ensure the safety of the public, as well as to manage the traffic.

Palms outside the cathedral were sold between P30 to P100, depending on the type and design.—Giselle Ombay/RF, GMA Integrated News