Holy Week

It's just another week at work. Yet I get this niggling feeling that it shouldn't be.

When I was growing up in Manila, Holy Week was a time to its own. Nobody worked from Wednesday onwards and, if you were outside of your house, you were in a church. Not at the movies, not in a restaurant or the mall. In a country where Catholicism rules, there was nothing else to do. Even if you did decide to go to the movies, all you'd catch was "The Ten Commandments", "Quo Vadis" or some other biblical themed tale. Television? Let's see, you could choose from The Living Rosary, Jesus of Nazareth or perhaps something from Father Peyton. Do you sense a theme?

For my family, Maundy Thursday was the day for Stations of the Cross. Good Friday was for Bisita Iglesia - visiting seven churches in a row, praying seven Our Fathers, seven Hail Marys and seven Glory Bes at each one. There would also be the 'pabasa' at the house down the street, a reading of the Lord's Passion done in a sing-song droning type voice. Black Saturday? Pretty much a hang around the house day where you could read about all the people who spent the previous day flogging themselves and getting crucified. (Yes, you read right.) And Easter? Now that was a celebration! A gloriously decorated church, music to lift your soul followed by a big extended family gathering with food, food, food.

Fast forward to moving the US. No holidays during Holy Week. Good Friday is just another day. Easter? Well, that's really been taken over by the Easter Bunny and colored plastic eggs.

It's just not the same.

Lately, I've been questioning my relationship with the Church. But, you know what? Come Sunday, you'll find me and my family at Mass. It's the biggest celebration, bigger than Christmas. Just like back home, there will be joyous music, beautiful flowers, white garments and a jam-packed church. We'll be there early so that we can snag a parking spot. I'll remember my kiddie distraction kit. For all my questioning, I just can't bear to miss Easter Mass and all that it signifies. It will be just like the old days, even if it's only for one hour.