It's still just Tuesday but I went out today and I already saw lots of tourists!
For those of you planning to spend Holy Week 2013 here in my hometown, I'd like to share with you how we spend our Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday, maybe you can come join us! :)
First of all, I just want to say that my family is very religious. My aunt and uncle are foster parents in Casiciaco Recoletos Seminary and participate a lot in church activities. That's the church me, my mom, and my grandma frequent as well.We like going there for a lot of reasons including:
- It's a much smaller church than say, Baguio Cathedral, so the mass is more...intimate, I guess. In Cathedral, there are sooo many people and it can be very distracting, especially with their sound system being, well, not good. It's easy to just not listen and be bothered by the people around you because you can't understand what the priest is saying most of the time, anyway.
- They do things with more, for lack of a better word... flair. I like it because I get so much more into it. It does count, you know. At least for me and my family. For example, In other churches, the services are done so draggingly it's killing you to stay awake and participate. Like, when the commentator sounds like a robot just muttering words/responses automatically without meaning them or the choir haven't practiced and keeps on messing up. I feel like Recoletos have at least overcome these things. I have to recognize them for making efforts to make people more engaged and invested in church activities, too. For example, on Holy Thursdays, they re-enact the washing of the feet. On Black Saturday,, during the Easter Vigil mass at night, in the beginning it'll be so dark, the lights are all off, you'll just each have candles, etc., to signify mourning because Christ hasn't risen yet and so on. Stuff like that. Some may argue that these things are unneccessary but for me it makes the whole experience more... more, ya know? :)
Now, I just want to share their schedule of services because I feel like Casiciaco Recoletos Seminary deserves to draw crowds as much as Baguio Cathedral or St. Joseph Parish. You're gonna have to excuse me, though, for I am not entirely sure of the times in this schedule. haha! Might be 1 hour off max. I'll update this list as soon as I know the exact details :D
If you need to know now, you may call them at (074)-442-2823
Holy Thursday - March 28, 2013
4pm - Washing of the Disciples' Feet
*After this we do Visita Iglesia. Here's a list of the churches we go to:
Casiciaco Recoletos Seminary - Naguilian Rd., beside Cooyesan
St. Vincent Ferrer Parish - Naguilian Rd, in front of Funeraria Paz
Our Lady of Lourdes - Kisad Rd.
Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral (Baguio Cathedral) - Upper Session Rd., beside Porta Vaga
Pink Sisters Monastery - Yangco Rd., near 50s Diner (lol)
St. Joseph the Worker - Pacdal Rd.
Little Flower Convent - Outlook Drive (Trivia: my aunt used to tell me this is where they shot Sarah ang Munting Prinsesa, a favorite movie from my childhood, dunno if she's just pulling my leg on that one.)
**You may also want to visit:
Immaculate Concepcion - Aurora Hill
St. John Bosco - Lucban
Sta. Catalina - Marcos Hi-way
Good Friday - March 29, 2013
9am - Stations of the Cross (I liked it better then when they used to do a Live Stations of the Cross, where they re-enact the Passion and Death of Christ, I saw a video of the 2007 one in youtube, click here to see it, although this is just video of pictures. Set to an inappropriate background music, if I might add)
2 or 3pm - Seven Last Words
Black Saturday - March 30, 2013
9pm - Easter Vigil Mass
Easter Sunday - March 31, 2013
7am - Easter Sunday Mass
*These schedules haven't changed for years so if you're reading this in 2014, 2015 or whatever, chances are, it's still the same schedule :)
There you have it, folks! That's the religious-slash-reflective part of what I'll be up to this coming Holy Week. Have a meaningful one :)
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