CTK Celebrates Sacred Paschal Triduum
Christ the King Parish Greenmeadows marked the Sacred Paschal Triduum, the summit of the entire liturgical year, with great reverence, solemnity and meaning last April 18-20. CTK parish priest Fr. Steve Zabala and resident
priests Bishop Raul Martires, Msgr. Tony Mortillero, Fr. Henry Ferreras and Fr. Jojo Gatdula all participated during the Triduum celebrations. Three of these preachers shared homilies that resonated with profound messages for each day of the Triduum.
Holy Thursday: Overcoming hindrances to fulfilling Jesus’ commandment of love
The Holy Thursday Chrism Mass was held at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Lantana, Cubao, the seat of the Cubao Diocese. At the special 6:30 am mass, the holy oils were blessed for use in the diocese for the next 365 days. It was also during the Chrism mass where all the diocese priests renewed their priestly vows. Despite ‘Standing Room Only’ beginning 5:30 am, several CTK parishioners attended. Louie Laudico and Benjie Mirasol were invited to break bread with Bishop Honesto F. Ongtioco, Fr. Steve Zabala, Msgr. Dan Sta. Maria and other priests after the mass.
In the afternoon, Fr. Henry Ferreras gave the homily during the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper where he posed the question: What hinders us from following Jesus’ commandment of love? Fr. Henry pointed out three obstacles – our preoccupation with worldly concerns, the hurts that continue to haunt and ]ill our hearts, and the sheer laziness to do the things that we ought to do for others. He highlighted the importance of strengthening one’s prayer life in the face of challenges. In the end, Fr. Ferreras said Jesus’ act of humility in washing of his disciples’ feet proved that only love can help us conquer all these hindrances.
This year’s ‘twelve apostles’ came from different sectors of the parish community. These were:
1.Anthony Yan – parishioner from Acropolis
2.Sands Songalia – Eucharistic Minister of Holy Communion
3.John Paul Garcia – LOC Libis Scholar
4.Luigi Celis – Kagawad of Brgy. White Plains
5.Roland Roque – Eucharistic Minister of Holy Communion
6.Jan Pasquin – Senior Altar Server
7.Louie Reyes – Eucharistic Minister of Holy Communion
8.Hans Delmar – Knights of Columbus and Libis Scholar
9.Lupo Basilio – Lector and Young Catholic Professionals
10.Joe Gonzales – father of altar server JG Gonzales
11.Don Bulahan – parishioner from St. Ignatius
12.Tony Ong – parishioner from First Greenmeadows
After the mass, everyone proceeded to the Altar of Repose at the Divine Mercy Chapel to spend some moments of prayer. The Altar of Repose had been decorated in a way that evoked prayer and contemplation. Several groups of church volunteers and visitors who were doing the traditional ‘Visita Iglesia’ held vigil until midnight.
Good Friday: Confronted with the Faces of Death
The Community Stations of the Cross in the afternoon was held at 2pm inside the main church just before the 3pm Veneration of the Cross and Communion Service. Led by Fr. Steve Zabala, the place was ]illed with the faithful who re]lected on the suffering and sacri]ices of Christ, aided by the 14 brilliantly colored stained glass windows around the church.
Fr. Steve also gave a moving homily during the Good Friday service that centered on the different kinds of deaths Jesus had endured even before the cruci]ixion at Golgotha – the killing of the innocents by Herod, the plan of his fellow Israelites to throw him off a cliff, false accusations by his brethren, Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s denial and more. He likened these to the threats of ‘death’ that confront the faithful and clergy in the present time. He also reminded everyone that encountering the different faces of death is part of being a Christian, quoting Romans 6:3, ‘Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?’ Fr. Steve said that amid these daily experiences of deaths and persecutions, the best response is that of Christ’s – love and mercy. Jesus remained faithful to this kind of love up to his last breath.
After the communion service, the faithful gathered for the Santo Entierro procession that wove through the streets of Greenmeadows subdivision. Church groups and the rest of the parish community accompanied the Santo Entierro, the Madre Dolorosa, and the attendant saint images while praying the Holy Rosary.
Holy Saturday: Easter Joy – ‘Mama, I won’t let you cry again’
The ‘holiest of nights’ started off with the Service of the Light at 8pm. Presided by Fr. Steve who also sang a specially- arranged Easter Proclamation or Exsultet, the beautiful liturgy highlighted salvation history through beautiful readings and moving psalms.
In his homily, Bishop Raul explained the parts of the Easter Vigil and related these to our lives – walking in the darkness of sin and needing Christ’s light in the Service of the Light, the faithfulness of God despite the unfaithfulness of his people in the Liturgy of the Word, and the stark presence of the Lord in the Liturgy of the Eucharist. He ended with a though-provoking story of one who wallowed in the darkness of sin but experienced reconciliation and Easter joy with a promise to his mother, ‘Mama, I won’t let you cry again.’
While there were no newly baptized during the vigil, the congregation witnessed a timely story of faith in the con]irmation of architect Eithne Fajardo.
Although baptized as a child, Eithne never had the opportunity to have her First Communion and Con]irmation since she studied in a non-Catholic school. It was providential that one of this year’s ‘apostles’, Anthony Yan, convinced her to take the sacraments. CTK catechist Sheryl Coronel adequately prepared her for the sacraments on Good Friday. Finally, 22 years after being baptized on Christmas day 1996, Eithne had her Con]irmation and First Communion during the Easter Vigil, the holiest of nights, proving that grace indeed comes in God’s perfect time.
After the vigil, the congregation had its usual festive Salubong rite wherein the menfolk gathered at the Acropolis gate with the image of the Risen Christ while the women met at the Giraffe area with the image of the Virgin Mary. The two images and ensuing processions converged at the parish church where hallelujahs, dancing and Easter joy ]illed the air. A simple agape followed in front of the Divine Mercy Chapel.
