By Leslie Ann Aquino
Catholic churches ín the country are all set for the observance of Holy Week which will start on Palm Sunday, April 14.
A number of churches have, in fact, coordinated with the authorities to ensure the safety of the huge number of faithful that is expected to troop to different churches on Palm Sunday.
Manila Cathedral church
(MANILA BULLETIN)
One of these churches is the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila.
"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.
Last week, the Manila Police District also conducted bomb and shooting simulation in front of the cathedral, Quiapo Church, and at the San Agustin Church.
Monsignor Hernando Coronel, Quiapo Church rector, said the simulation was in preparation for Holy Week.
Quiapo Church also holds a procession of the Black Nazarene on Good Friday 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 a separate interview.
It was only last January when twin explosions rocked the Jolo Cathedral in Sulu which killed at least 21 people.
Meanwhile, all Holy Week services at the Manila Cathedral will be presided by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.
Tagle will preside the Palm Sunday Mass at 7 a.m., the Chrism Mass and the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday at 7 a.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.
The cathedral already posted their Holy Week schedule outside the church and on their Facebook page. Other parishes also did the same thing to inform the public weeks before the observance.