Catholic churches all set for Holy Week
Catholic churches around the country are all set for the observance of Holy Week which will start on Palm Sunday, April 14.
A number of churches, one of them the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila, have coordinated with the authorities to ensure the safety of the big number of faithful that are expected to troop to different churches to perform Holy Week rituals.
"We are coordinating with the Intramuros Administration, the police, and other agencies to ensure the safety of the faithful who will come to the Manila Cathedral," Father Reginald Malicdem, rector of the Manila Cathedral, said in an interview.
Meanwhile, as part of the security preparations, the Manila Police District conducted last week a simulation of response to a bomb
attack and a shooting incident in front of the cathedral and at the San Agustin Church.
Monsignor Hernando Coronel, Quiapo Church rector, said the simulation was in preparation for Holy Week.
On Good Friday, Quiapo Church will again hold a procession of the Black Nazarene which is attended by many devotees.
"Our activities are the same. We just want to appeal to devotees to be one with us in making the procession orderly," Father Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of Quiapo Church, said in an interview.
Meanwhile, all Holy Week services at the Manila Cathedral will be presided by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.
His Emminence will lead the Palm Sunday Mass at 7 a.m., the Chrism Mass and the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday at 7a.m and 5 p.m. respectively; the Commemoration of the Lord's Passion on Good Friday at 3 p.m. and the Easter Vigil Mass on Black Saturday at 8 p.m.
Holy Week schedules have been posted by many churches outside the church premises and in their Facebook pages.
People are expected to start crowding churches on Holy Thursday when families go around to visit churches.
Barangays have also prepared for the traffic that will be caused by the number of vehicles that will be moving around areas where churches are located, setting up traffic enforcers and clearing sidewalks of vendors.