Lent starts from Ash Wednesday until the mass of the Lord’s supper exclusive on Holy Thursday. “The annual Lenten season is a fitting time to climb the holy mountain of Easter. The Lenten season has a double character, namely, to prepare both catechumens and faithful to celebrate the paschal mystery. The catechumens, with the rite of election and scrutinizes and by catechesis, are prepared for the celebration of the sacraments of Christian initiation; the faithful, ever more attentive to the word of God and prayer, prepare themselves by penance for the renewal of their baptismal promises. (Caeremoniale Episcoporum, 249). Holy Week
Fast forward tayo. Twenty-five years na, pari pa rin po kami at naglilingkod sa Diyos at Simbahan. Binabalikan ko sa aking panalangin at pagninilay yung: sampung taong naging tagahubog ako ng seminarista sa Holy Apostles Senior Seminary kasama na rin dito yun pagiging chaplain ng Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord sa SM Megamal at Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel sa Greenbelt, Makati, dalawang taong parish priest ng Sta. Rita de Cascia sa Philam Homes, QC, dalawang taong parish priest ng Holy Sacrifice Parish sa UP, anim na taong obispo ng Diyosesis ng San Jose, Nueva Ecija at halos apat na taon ng obispo niyo dito sa Pasig. Katulad siguro ng mga batchmates kong nagdiriwang ng silver anniversray ngayon, isa lamang ang sinasambit ng puso ko: pasasalamat! Salamat sa Diyos at pari pa rin ako at pari pa rin kaming lahat ngayon.