Card. Tagle invites faithful to ‘Good Friday Walk’

One of the country’s leading churchman has invited the faithful to take part in the forthcoming Penitential Walk (“Via Crucis”) organized by Church-run Radio Veritas in tandem with the Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM), on April 3, Good Friday, as a way to reflect on Christ’s Passion, examine their consciences, reconcile with the Lord, and renew their lives.

In a statement, Manila Archbishop Luís Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle encourages the faithful to make use of the “Penitential Walk: Deliverance from Calamities and for Peace” to ask for forgiveness from the Lord and make a difference by helping underprivileged people, not only those crippled by the onslaught of typhoons and other calamities, but also those oppressed by corruption, injustice, absence of truth, loss of concern for others, of selfishness, and insensitivity.

“Let us open our eyes and hearts. Let us do something to lessen the impact of calamities. Let us change our lifestyles so catastrophes caused by humans will no longer wreak havoc in the future,” Radio Veritas reports the cardinal as saying.

Now on its 2nd year, the seven-kilometer “Penitential Walk: Deliverance from Calamities and for Peace” is expected to start at San Juan de Dios Hospital, Pasay City, and end at the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Manila Cathedral) in Intramuros.

Aware that between 20 to 22 typhoons hit the Philippines each year, the prelate laments many Filipinos are stormed everyday by non-concrete turbulences.

Tagle mentions the catastrophe involving the swelling number of street children and street families, due to human trafficking, conflicts, and widespread corruption in the country.

The RCAM chief further advises everyone to stop blaming others for the hardships they experience, but instead to take action, repent, and start afresh. The prelate hopes that through the Penitential Walk, every Catholic faithful would be enlightened and inspired to help people who often suffer from man-made calamities.

Besides RCAM itself, the event is supported by the Vicariates of the Holy Family; Holy Spirit; Our Lady of Loreto; San Fernando de Dilao; San Jose de Trozo; Santo Nino; Our Lady of Guadalupe; St. Joseph the Worker; Sts. Peter and Paul; Sta. Clara de Montefalco; San Felipe Neri; and St. John the Baptist.

(source: Radio Veritas)