2 Years Ago
2014 - Monica and I attended the Lenten Pabasa at the house of my good friend, Rory Francisco. It was Monica's first time to be exposed to this aspect of our rich cultural heritage--the chanting of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. She got to sing in Tagalog! Yay-y-y. And after that, a taste of pastel de lengua and ginataan with bilo-bilo which she tasted for the first time in her twenty plus years of life, and enjoyed immensely.
Thursday, we recited the HolyThursday matins, psalms of lamentation for our Lord's sufferings, which used to be sung at night but now recited in the morning. We moved on to the evening multilingual service of the Last Supper, the reenactment of the Washing of the feet of the 12 apostles, and then the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. All this in alternation of English, Vietnamese, Spanish and Tagalog, showcasing each culture's beautiful music and showing our parish' vibrancy and its welcoming of a diversity of people.This is the first day of the solemn EasterTriduum that continues till Saturday and will climax on Easter Sunday, when Jesus rises from death as He promised in order to complete His mission of establishing His Church on earth, the Church that will last throughout eternity. We look forward to Saturday Vigil when our catechumens (new Catholics) will be baptized into Catholicism. Welcome into our community of faith, Brothers and Sisters. Life is full of excitement, despite its ups and downs. Catholicism is full of eye-opening truths, opportunities for deepening of faith.to enable us to reach our final destination.
