Lipa known to be the little Rome of the Philippines has its own share of most number of Catholic populace. Devotees from neighboring towns flock to do their Visita Iglesia (church visitation) to either the Redemptorist Church, Our lady of Mount Carmel and the San Sebastian Cathedral during the holy week. San Sebastian Cathedral of Lipa is so far the place to be for Catholic devotees during Lenten season since its foundation. Holy week is past approaching. San Sebastian cathedral may not currently have the largest attendees yet, is increasing each year and is quite ready for the annual events.
Palm Sunday, is the first day of the holy week and is considered the most solemn time in the Christian calendar and falls on April 9. San Sebastian parish commemorates Palm Sunday as the celebration of the moment when the son of God entered Jerusalem in triumph while the crowds carrying palm branches on April 8 at 5 o’clock in the afternoon and April 9 at 5 o’clock in the morning, 12 noon 3:30, 5 o’clock in the afternoon and 7 o’clock in the evening.
Mass will be held daily every 5 o’clock in the morning and 5 o’clock in the afternoon during Holy Week from April 10 to 12. There will be other activities to be observed during those dates like confessions and procession of the Cross in the downtown.
Routes of the parade of the Cross will start at St. Anthony de Padua in Bolbok to Sto. Niño church of Marawoy then onwards to the chapel of Kayumanggi , San Jose then lastly to Tibig and back to the cathedral . The parade will start early at 3 o’clock in the morning. There will be other activities to be held during this day until black Saturday. The tradition called “dagit” is also performed. During the dagit (a Tagalog term meaning to catch or to hook) a child would remove the black veil that covers the head of the Virgin Mary which means that her mourning is over since Christ has already risen.
For more information regarding lent, please visit the cathedral website at cathedrallipacity.webs.com or listen to 105.7 Fm.
Other Activities
Church visitation is among the traditional activities observed during lent season. The Metropolitan and Parish San Sebastian invite everyone to be a part of their Visita Iglesia 2017 at April 4, 2017(Tuesday). Itineraries includes , San Juan Nepomuceno Church , San Juan, Batangas, San Pedro Bautista Church ,Candelaria, Quezon St. Francis of Assisi Church , Sariaya, Quezon, St. Ferdinand Cathedral , Lucena , Quezon; Minor Basilica St. Michael the Archangel , Tayabas , Quezon; Kamay ni Hesus, Lucban , Quezon ; Luis Obispo De Tolosa Parish Church , Lucban Quezon
The CFC Singles for Christ Archdiocese of Lipa invites all single men and women aged 21-35 to be a part of their Christian Life Program every Sunday starting March 19, 2017 at San Sebastian Hall Lipa Cathedral from 9 am to 12pm. For inquires, Contact Bro. Michael 0927-964-0048/0930-664-2300a and Sis. Aira 0935-365-2635. (Margie Tan)