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For Catholics, Holy Week is one of the biggest and most important occasions on its liturgical calendar.

The solemn week-long observance commemorates the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It signifies Jesus's triumph over sin and death and a manifestation of God's love and compassion.

This year's observance will run from March 28 (Palm Sunday) until April 4 (Easter Sunday).

Holy Week is usually marked with special masses, processions, and prayer activities such as novenas, Stations of the Cross, and Visita Iglesia.

There are also rituals like the pabasa, penitensya, and cenaculo, which in some provinces, involves a person being nailed on the cross.

Although the penitensya and crucifixion are not endorsed by the Catholic Church, both have been an integral part of our Holy Week traditions.

But with COVID-19 threats still in our midst, this year's Holy Week observance, like in 2020, will be low-key and limited, and with most activities being prohibited to discourage crowd gatherings.

It doesn't mean, however, that we can't observe this annual religious event in a meaningful way.

Here are some of the ways to mark Holy Week even at home.

Hear mass virtually

Many devout Catholics are now used to hearing mass online. While not ideal, it does serve a purpose, and that is to keep us safely indoors.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has encouraged the public to participate in virtual masses instead.

Meanwhile, those who prefer to attend mass in churches must check with their local municipalities and churches to know if they're holding masses in limited capacities.

Metro Manila and neighboring provinces Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite, however, are totally prohibited from conducting religious gatherings as ordered by Malacañang on Saturday, March 28.

The mentioned areas are placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from March 29 to April 4 in an effort to arrest rising new cases of COVID-19.

Visita Iglesia at home

Unfortunately, going out for Visita Iglesia and Stations of the Cross is not encouraged both by the church and government.

However, you can still do both online and radio.

Yes, there's virtual Visita Iglesia for those who are used to visiting several churches during the Holy Week to pray.

The CBCP also recommends listening to church-run radio for Stations of the Cross and Holy Week prayers.

Rest and reflect

Staying at home has become the norm for us nowadays.

Still, Holy Week provides the perfect opportunity for us to slow down, reflect, and even relax at home.

If you're fasting or skipping meat for the time being, perhaps you can look for new recipes online to jazz up a bit your meal and turn it into something more interesting and flavorful.

Don't feel guilty if you feel like binge-watching on Netflix or on cable shows.

Make sure to check out also GMA-7 and GTV to enjoy its variety of programs ranging from Holy Week-related to entertainment shows for kids, adults, and the entire family.

The good news is you can revisit some of the Kapuso network's memorable shows such as I Can See You: Love on the Balcony starring Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Alden Richards on April 1, Maundy Thursday.

Don't forget to check the program line-ups here on GMANetwork.com to keep you in the loop.

Or if you're busily working from home or in the office these past couple of weeks, maybe it's the best time to catch some quality zzz's.

Holy Week is ideal for some self-reflection or soul-searching, as what others would like to call it.

Take a look online for reputable charity institutions where you can donate money or stuff like old clothes, toys, and even books.

Finally, get in touch with friends and family members just to see how they are doing.

Better still if you can let go of a few grudges by reaching out to people whom you might have hurt or hurt you in the past.

These are just some of the ways we can observe Holy Week while still in the midst of a pandemic.

Remember, Holy Week is all about remembering Jesus and his sacrifices.

It's a time to reconnect with our inner self, values, and most importantly, our faith.

For more stories like this, visit GMA Lifestyle's page.

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