Catholics start Holy Week with Palm Sunday, urged to 'journey with the poor'

Filipino Catholics started the yearly observance of Holy Week with Palm Sunday, where they marked the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, days before his Passion and death. Many churchgoers on Sunday were seen bringing palm fronds to Mass to have these blessed by priests, while vendors near churches are busy selling their palaspas wares. But some Catholics were seen buying palm fronds as early as Saturday evening. In Quezon City, radio dzBB's Manny Vargas reported olive branches were sold near Sacred Heart Church for P10 to P15 each while decorated palm fronds sold for P20 to P25. The report quoted vendors as saying they expect to sell many of their items for the day. Filipino Catholics also received a reminder from Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle to "journey with the poor" during the Holy Week. Tagle, in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site Friday, said the faithful can show Christ's love in practical ways like helping the needy. “We hope, especially this Holy Week may really be a journey of faith with Jesus. It’s really faith that will enable us to journey with Jesus who suffered out of love for us,” he said. “And in journeying with Jesus, hopefully we can journey with one another especially those who are suffering and bring them love too,” he added. Tagle said such a journey will be challenging, because it is "not easy to walk with Jesus who will die on the Cross.” “Even in ordinary situations when you know that your companion will be in danger, we go our separate ways,” he said. Tagle returned to the Philippines Thursday after taking part in the conclave that selected Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis) as the new leader of the Catholic Church. — LBG, GMA News