A 'cyber retreat' for Lent from CBCP

Catholics who may be too busy to attend a full retreat this Lent may now have a virtual alternative courtesy of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

 

The CBCP said the virtual retreat, organized by its media office, is a new feature of its Visita Iglesia Online website for this year.

 

“These are packets of video reflections that will serve as alternative catechesis to those who will have no chance of attending Lenten retreats,” CBCP spokesman Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III said.

 

As of Wednesday night, the "online Lenten retreat" section of the site (www.visitaiglesia.net) was still blank.

 

It said the page "will be available by the First Week of Lent."  

 

On the other hand, Quitorio stressed it is still the person who must make the retreat even if the Church provides the "materials" to reflect on.

 

He added that while an online retreat is no substitute for spending a few days in a "Lenten atmosphere," it can make a difference for people who cannot go on such retreats.

 

Other features

 

Another added feature is a Lenten podcast that contains reflections that may be handy for Filipinos who are bedridden.

 

There will also be Lenten blogs which are discussion taken from the blogs of bishops, priests and religious and lay faithful.

 

The CBCP first launched its Visita Iglesia site in 2010 to let Filipinos abroad participate in the country’s observance of the season.

 

Visitors can take a virtual tour of Philippine churches, and listen to the Pasyon (chanted readings of the Gospel account of Christ's Passion).

 

Also, they can watch videos of the Seven Last Words, read homilies and take part in the Stations of the Cross via a computer with an Internet connection.

 

“This project is specially intended for Filipinos who have no way to going to Churches, especially the seafarers and the homebound,” Quitorio said.

 

Streaming

 

On Good Friday, the Seven Last Words at the Christ the King Parish in Quezon City will be video streamed live.

 

In last year's Holy Week, the CBCP said the site garnered 150,000 unique visitors and over 1.5 million page loads.

 

“The positive feedback and requests especially coming from Filipinos abroad have inspired us to go on,” said Quitorio. — TJD, GMA News