"Kapag nandiyan, hindi pinapansin. Kapag nawala na, at tsaka hinahanap."
True enough, I have been longing and missing how we Filipinos celebrate and practice our Holy Week back in Manila. It is the 4th time we're spending Holy Week here in Sydney and like Christmas, you still can't feel it's already Holy Week.
Back in Manila, I had retreats and prayer sessions (c/o Ateneo Grade School). It was not so hard to confess because there were many opportunities to confess. You feel good doing the practices because everyone in the community is doing it.
Good thing I chanced upon the website of the Philippine Jesuits and for the third year, hubby and I will be doing their on-line retreat. Looking forward to doing it starting tomorrow.
Our family has also been spending family prayer time every 8pm since Monday. No TVs, no tablets, no laptops. Everyone is gathered in front of the altar and we say our prayers. Liam starts our family prayers. Feels good. :)
I know that my family will be away for the holidays but we will make sure to still attend the church services while on holidays. I hope that my children will grow up realizing the value of celebrating Easter. More than Christmas, I think it is the highlight of being Christians because without Easter we would not have been delivered and saved from the sins we have committed. We would not be enjoying what we have now.
Makes me and hubby realize that aside from Christmas, maybe we should also let our children experience Holy Week in the Philippines. Hopefully, it will also help them deepen their understanding about their faith.
Happy Easter everyone!
