ILOILO City – The Archdiocese of Jaro is urging the faithful to make an effort to go to church to receive ashes today.
According to Father Angelo Colada, director of the Archdiocese of Jaro’s Social Communication Office, while it is true that offices, classes, and many activities occupy people’s daily lives, everyone should still find a way to make an effort to attend church to receive ashes.
Ash Wednesday is the start of the 40-day Lenten season.
Colada emphasizes to the faithful that it is not enough to simply receive ashes or leave immediately after doing so; staying to attend the Mass or Liturgy of the Word would be better.
For Colada, making the effort to go to church despite being busy with work or classes is a form of sacrifice.
“This is what often happens: they attend church, and after receiving ashes, they quickly leave without the Mass or Liturgy being finished. We should complete the ritual,” said Colada.
To accommodate everyone, churches, especially the Jaro Cathedral, announced last week the scheduled Masses and Liturgy of the Word, in addition to lay ministers going to barangays to administer ashes.
Here is the Ash Wednesday schedule for liturgical celebrations at the cathedral, also the National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles:
Main Altar
* 5:30 a.m. – Holy Mass
* 6:30 a.m. – Holy Mass
* 9 a.m. – Liturgy of the Word
* 10 a.m. – Liturgy of the Word
* 12:15 noon – Holy Mass
St. John Paul III Hall
* 5 p.m. – Liturgy of the Word
* 6 p.m. – Liturgy of the Word
* 7 p.m. – Liturgy of the Word
The imposition of ashes will be held within these liturgical celebrations.
For Colada, listening to the Liturgy of the Word is a manifestation of true faith and observance of the Lent season. The imposition of ashes on the forehead is merely a symbol of faith; hence, it is important to listen to the word of God.
“Let’s give time to the word of God; it invites us to change. The ashes are just a symbol that calls us to repent of our sins and return to our dear God. So, we should not focus solely on the external,” said Colada.
Also, Colada mentioned that the church reminds all the faithful that Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence.
Those aged 14 years and older are obliged to observe abstinence (refraining from eating meat), while those aged 18 to 59 years are obliged to observe fasting.
Pregnant women, individuals with medical conditions, and elderly people are exempt from these Lenten practices.
Fasting and abstinence are observed twice a year: on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Fasting refers to the quantity of food, while abstinence refers to the quality or type of food./PN
