MANILA, Feb. 28, 2015—For a Catholic priest, the forthcoming summer vacation provides the best opportunity for parents to expound to their children on the meaning of Lent, given that the holy season roughly coincides with the two months students spend off school.
According to Fr. Conegundo B. Garganta, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)’s Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY), it is important that at an early age, young people already have a solid grasp of the significance of the Lord’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection, which he stressed this current 40-day sacred observance is basically about.
In his interview over Church-run Radyo Veritas on Thursday, Feb. 27, the priest suggested parents can encourage their kids to take part in activities sponsored by their parishes .
This way, Garganta explained, they keep themselves busy with things that are wholesome, worthwhile, and at the same time away from harmful influences to which many of them are often exposed today.
Meanwhile, Fr. Ramon Jade Licuanan, who heads the Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM)’s Archdiocesan Commission on Youth (ACY), invited the faithful to the “Daang Krus” (Way of the Cross) which the metropolitan see plans to hold on March 28 in pious remembrance of Christ’s Paschal Mystery.
He shared each RCAM parish and vicariate will mount similar activities set to make the commemoration of the Lord’s redeeming work more appealing to the young faithful.
“The Way of the Cross is especially designed and customized with the youth in mind. In one station, we will have time for writing letters. In another, we will have reflections from contributing priests and youth,” Licuanan added. (Raymond A. Sebastián/CBCP News)
