Holy Week and our family

HOLY Week is a time of the year when Catholics flock to church to commemorate the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross to redeem us from sin, and His resurrection.

The week starts on Palm Sunday with the faithful attending mass and bringing with them palms to celebrate the triumphant entry of the Lord Jesus Christ to Jerusalem to bring the good news to the faithful.

The celebration continues with daily masses following the events on Jesus’ life on Holy Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, and then comes the Resurrection on Sunday.

Aside from   the religious aspect of the gathering, for many families it serves as an opportunity for a family reunion.

In our case, we are particularly happy that for this year we have visits from our children who live separate from us and on their own.

We have our son, Andrew, who works with a bottling company. Because of his nationwide personnel responsibilities, he is based in Metro Manila. However, he kept their residence in Davao where he was formerly assigned before he assumed nationwide responsibilities for his company. He has a grown-up son now working in Davao and they decided to keep their residence there. He and his wife, Bern, and their son, Migue, were all in Iloilo for our get-together.

Our  daughter Cherry who works in Makati was home and so with our youngest Jill from London who comes on visit every summer with husband Andy following in the next few days. Husband and wife are dedicated to the yachting sports in the UK and are well-known to enthusiasts of the same sports in the Philippines.

Then we have our two “apos” from Silay City, Negros Occidental, with mother Cherry. Eldest, Claire, 7, who is outstanding in her class at San Agustin grade school in Bacolod, will be in Grade III when school opens in June. Her younger sister, Marie, 3, will now enter nursery school. Their father who is our son, Earl, an architect, works abroad in Singapore.

With seven children of four boys and three girls, and six married, our secret wish is to have more “apos” in the years to come. Our prayers during Christmastime and the Holy Week after we meditate on the passion of Christ are to include a secret request to Him to bless us with more “apos” in the years to come.

Are you listening, Lord?

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GEM OF THOUGHT

“I expect to pass through life but once.  If therefore there is kindness that I can show, let me do it now.” – William Penn (For comments or re-actions, please e-mail to jnoveracompany@yahoo.com)/PN