The Filipino Migrants: Holy Week: The Nunciature, Abuja, Nigeria, West Africa

The Lent Season

As commemorated at:

The Nunciature

Abuja, Nigeria, West Africa

After the Palm Sunday, the faithful eagerly prepared for the Easter Triduum (commemorating the passion, death and resurrection of Christ). This period includes Good Friday, Holy Saturday (or Black Saturday) and Easter Sunday.

Washing of the feet

"Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" ("A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you.") - Gospel of John 13:34

The Gospel of John 13:1 – 17 is Jesus explanation to the Apostles of the significance of His action of washing the feet:

"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet."

"For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you."

"Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him."

"If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."

The twelve apostles were duly represented by ministers, ambassadors, businessmen and active members of the community including the Philippine Embassy's CDA Alex V. Lamadrid.

The Papal Nuncio performed the task with Fr. Andrew and Fr. Raymond.

Pictures below show the chosen twelve waiting for their turns to have their feet washed.

...as the washing of the feet started, Fr. Andrew pours the water assisted by Fr. Raymond as the Papal Nuncio washes the feet of the 'twelve apostles'

...as an example: 'you should do as I have done to you...'

...the last three - the Korean Ambassador, the Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Embassy CDA Alex V. Lamadrid (at extreme right)

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you."

...cross-section of the parishioners: OFW Marisa Mercado greeting a friend...

...receiving the Holy Communion...

OFWS Marisa Mercado, Sherwin Cayabyab, Angie Alcaria, Nonito Barraquias, Tessie Azarcon, Dorothy Barraquias with CDA Alex V. Lamadrid

Visit to the Blessed Sacrament on the Altar of Repose

On this day the church is darkened by extinguishing all candles and lamps. This represents the darkness of a world without God.

GOOD FRIDAY

‘Today He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung upon the Cross.’

The Holy Week commemorations reach their peak on Good Friday as the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the passion of Jesus - the commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His death at Calvary.

For OFWs here, the tradition of visiting seven churches (Visita Iglesia), that is visiting one, seven or fourteen churches and praying the Stations of the Cross with the stations divided amongst the churches, is carried on. Visita Iglesia is originally a practice to visit churches on Holy Thursday to visit the Blessed Sacrament on the Altar of Repose. However, as the holidays declared here in Abuja, Nigeria is from Good Friday to Easter Monday, OFWs here followed this practice on Good Friday.

Spiritual significance

The object of the Stations is to help the faithful to make a spiritual pilgrimage of prayer, through meditating upon the chief scenes of Christ's sufferings and death in a spirit of reparation for the sufferings and insults that Jesus endured during His Passion. These acts of reparation to Jesus Christ do not involve a petition for a living or deceased beneficiary but aim to repair the sins against Jesus.
According to Pope John Paul II, the Acts of Reparation is the ‘unceasing effort to stand beside the endless crosses on which the Son of God continues to be crucified.’
The Way of the Cross started at 5:00 pm.

Reenactment of The Way of the Cross - inside the compound of The Nunciature - OFWS amongst the faithful...

...the faithful following the way of the cross

...as the cross is carried from stations to stations

...here, OFW Tess Azarcon leads the prayers in one station...

...the parishioners following the passion of Christ...

...from one station to another...here Sr. Efling amongst them...

...following The Cross...

Fr. Andrew

...more prayers...

...at the last station...Fr. Andrew climbing the stairs; Dr. Martin and the rest waiting for the final prayers...

Final Station: here OFW Nonito Barraquias read the prayers; Sr. Efling, Msgr. John

Adoration of the Cross

The Cross is venerated

From the Korean Embassy among the faithful

HOLY SATURDAY (Sabbatum Sanctum)

The day before Easter and the last day of Holy Week – in commemoration of the day that Jesus Christ’s body was laid in the tomb.

Holy Saturday commemoration started with a fire and the lighting of the new Paschal candle.The flame of the Paschal candle symbolizes Christ as light of the world and His presence in the midst of His people. The Paschal candle is sometimes referred to as the "Easter candle" or the "Christ candle."

The ceremonial lighting of the Paschal candle is one of the most solemn moments of the service.

(The tall white candle in many ways signifies the Divine pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night that lead the Israelites in their Exodus from slavery in Egypt.)

...the faithful gathered outside for the lighting of the Paschal Candle

...the ball of fire slowly coming down from the roof of the building down to the pile of woods...and as it reached the pile, the fire was ignited...

...the Papal Nuncio lighting the Paschal Candle assisted by Msgr. John and Fr. Andrew with the altar boys and OFW Gel LLames. The Paschal candle is the first candle to be lit with a flame from this sacred fire, representing the light of Christ coming into the world. This represents the risen Christ as a symbol of light (life) dispelling darkness (death).