Holy Week in the Philippines during COVID-19


Holy Week in the Philippines is usually marked by social gatherings – churches brim with devotees and dramatic processions are held to remember the sacrifices of Jesus. 

But as these are not possible at the moment due to COVID-19, our celebration of this year’s Holy Week is being held in ways we haven’t seen before. 

During Palm Sunday on 5th April, the tradition wouldn’t be complete for devotees without their palaspas getting blessed. So Filipino Catholic priests sought ways to reach out to their flock by giving their blessings along the streets


Catholic priests blessing palaspas on the streets



For instance, Head of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan in Pangasinan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, in his usual white cassock but wearing a face mask,
roamed around the streets of Dagupan on top of a van as he gave blessings to the palaspas of the locals.

Father Velasquez of Palo, Leyte inside a tricycle
Image credit: CBCP News 

In Leyte, Fr. Mark Ivo Velasquez of the Archdiocese of Palo toured the barrios of the province via a tricycle to offer his blessings in the form of whispered prayers to his devotees’ palaspas displayed in front of their homes

Father Velasquez offering his blessings
Image credit: CBCP News


Family photos displayed on church benches


A priest of the Holy Rosary parish standing amidst church benches filled with photos of the church's devotees
Image credit: Holy Rosary Parish – Pisamban Maragul 

While churches cannot be filled with the physical presence of their devotees, the Holy Rosary Parish in Angeles City, Pampanga, found a way to still be close to its churchgoers from afar. 

Family photos filled the church of the Holy Rosary ParishImage credit: Holy Rosary Parish – Pisamban Maragul

Even though Holy Week masses in the church were not attended by their kapampangan devotees, they attended in spirit by having their family photos placed in the church’s pews



These scenarios in various churches and provinces around the Philippines indeed show how deeply tied Filipino Catholics are to their religious traditions. 

We may not commemorate many religious events with one another this year, but nothing can stop us from finding ways to be close to one another in spirit. 

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Cover image adapted from: CBCP News, Holy Rosary Parish – Pisamban Maragul 

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