In light of the prevailing enhanced community quarantine, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has issued guidelines and recommendations for the observance of Holy Week. Since large gatherings are highly discouraged, Church activities typically done for Holy Week are wholly canceled. Hence, Catholic families would have to go without their usual Holy Week traditions and make do with new ones — ones that follow quarantine protocols. So what does that leave us with?
Here are a few things you can do to observe Holy Week at home:
Holy Thursday
This day reminds us that we are called to serve one another and recalls Jesus’ doing so with a recounting of the Last Supper and His’ washing of the feet of his disciples. You can:
- Attend online Mass to hear the liturgy.
- Help someone: it can be as simple as helping out with the household chores for the day.
- Share a meal: if you have a bit of extra, you can send a simple meal to your neighbor or even have one delivered to a friend or family member. Do practice social distancing and abide by curfew, please.
Good Friday
This is considered the most solemn and sorrowful day of the Church calendar as it commemorates Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and burial.
- Attend online Mass to hear the liturgy, including the Passion, Veneration of the Cross, and special prayers.
- Set aside a prayerful time for the family between 12 noon and 3 pm.
- Discuss Jesus’ act of forgiveness and encourage family members to emulate this by forgiving someone who has harmed them.
Holy Saturday
This is considered as a “time of darkness and waiting” as it commemorates Jesus in the tomb. At the same time, it’s also the day of final preparations for Easter.
- Attend an online Easter Vigil.
- Gather as a family and sing worship songs as a way of “keeping vigil” until Jesus rises.
Easter Sunday
- Celebrate the risen Lord at online mass.
Aside from these, you can also arrange other kid-friendly activities such as:
Easter Story Scramble
You can write key events of Jesus’ life, especially those that the Holy Week commemorates in small pieces of paper and hide it in different areas of your home. If you have plastic eggs on hand, you can put them there along with treats for a modified Easter egg hunt. Get the kids to look for the eggs. Once they’ve completed it, read the small pieces of paper and get them to arrange the events in order.
Have a safe and blessed Holy Week, mamas!
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