Rise and Rejoice

Today, we celebrate the most profound and happiest day of the Holy Week celebration.

Alleluia, Christ is risen!

Happy Easter!

Let the joy rise

Today is one of the most joyous days for the Catholic world.

Alleluia! He is Risen!

Whenever we hear Easter Sunday mass, you can feel the happiness and excitement of the congregation. From the priest to the servers to the choir to the mass goers, everyone is excited to meet the resurrected Christ. 

Happy Easter, everyone!

Vigil-ance

As much as I'm enjoying the peace and quiet of Holy Week here in MNL, part of me still misses spending Holy Weeks in Tokyo. Particularly, attending the Easter Vigil Mass with Mark at the Franciscan Chapel Center.

From the time we gather at the garden, to the procession going tot he main chapel, to the baptismal rites at the basement - each part of the Mass is wonderfully meaningful and solemn. And when the newly baptized Catholics are paraded around the chapel amidst cheers and applause, it can't help but make me teary-eyed.

Hopefully, we'll be able to experience that again soon.

Can you Handel this?

Happy Resurrection Day!

As the Bible scripture says: "He is Risen. Alleluia!"

And it's that time of the year again. Time to bring our Handel's "Messiah" and celebrate our risen Lord.

A glorious day deserves a glorious hymn.

Rise to the Happy Occasion

These words that are said during Easter Sunday are words that always brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart.

Alleluia! He is Risen!

Four words that are full of joy and hope. The same joy and hope that we feel on the day of Christ's resurrection.

Happy Easter!

Vigil Mass Memories

This is the 3rd time that i’m attending the Easter Vigil Mass online.

While the feeling is very different compared to attending Easter Vigil Masses face-to-face, there’s still a sense of community even I’m just behind the screen.

And as each of the 7 scripture readings are read, I can’t help but remember our Easter Vigil Masses with Mark at the Franciscan Chapel Center. An activity that’s well-documented and well-talked about on my blog.

One of the highlights of tonight’s Mass was the baptism of an adult. Again, the brings back memories of Japan where adults are baptized during the Vigil Mass. 

When Mark was still in Urasa, we even witnessed the baptism of a 90-year old woman! That was truly heartwarming to watch.

Hopefully, next year, Mark and I will get to relive our tradition and attend Mass in Roppongi again. The thought of the woman singing “Go down Moses” in her strong and well-rounded voice is enough to make us want to witness it again.

Arise!

Today is Easter Sunday!

Arise! Jesus Christ is risen.

This is one of my favourite Bible passages about Easter. My earliest recollection of this as a young adult was in High School during our of our Bible studies in LSQC. This gave me goosies back then, and it still does until now.

Speaking of rising, today also reminds me of one of the songs we'd sing in the choir that I still love until now.

Arise! Shine out,  for your light has come! The Glory of Yahweh is rising on you!

Happy Easter!

Hope Rising

It's Easter Sunday!

This is a day of rejoicing and hope. Rejoicing that Christ is Risen and has defeated death, and Hope for all that after sorrow comes joy.

Hope and Joy! Two of the things that I - and I'm certain, the whole world - pray for during this Easter season.

Staying Vigil-ant

For several years, our Easter Vigils were spent in this church - The Franciscan Chapel Center in Roppongi.

I've written about it many times, and I'll write about it again. Spending Easter Vigil in this church is truly a rewarding, enriching and emotional experience.

From walking into the chapel in the dark and getting our candles. To the opening prayers held in the chapel gardens. Then walking to the main chapel where everything is dark and only lit by candle light. The scriptures are then read, along with beautifully sung hymns. (Hello, Go down Moses!)

And when the Alleluia comes, the lights all come on and the chapel is filled with life, joy and music!

After the gospel and homily, we then proceed to the basement for the traditional baptism of the new Catholics - an inspiring mix of young and old Catholics.

These same Catholics are then welcomed upstairs by the congregation though song and greetings. This part always wells my heart and leaves me teary-eyed.

The mass then concludes, and Mark and I walk off to Roppongi to have dinner.

It's been years since we spent Easter Vigils this way. We were hoping to do it this year. But this will have to wait when all this is over. For tonight, Easter Vigil was spent hearing mass on-line at The Manila Cathedral.

Until then, I have these memories to bring a smile on Easter night.

It never fails!

Last night, I heard Easter Vigil Mass at St. Francis Church in LSM. It felt like continuing a tradition because from the Franciscan Chapel, I'm now in a Franciscan Church. Plus, I graduated from a Franciscan school. If Francis Mark were here, then it would be uber complete.

And just as it did many Easter masses ago, the singing of the Gloria and lighting of the Church took my breath away.

It never fails to do that. And some things never change.

Vigil-ance

For more than 5 years, Mark and I had this Holy Week tradition of hearing Easter Vigil mass at the Franciscan Chapel Center in Roppongi. And while it's been 2 years since we last went there, I still remember the vigil mass as if it were yesterday.

When we arrive, the entire chapel would be dark. The parish goers are then asked to wait by the corridor for the official start of the vigil. They would hand us candles, then we're led to the garden for the first part of the ceremony. Since it's Springtime, the cold air mingles nicely with the warmth from the flames.

Then, the congregation would head back into the building and into the main chapel. Oftentimes, people would go inside in a rush since the seats are limited and the mass is long. Mark and I would usually take the same spot, which is on the left side of the altar. (Although we sat on the right side during our last mass in 2016.)

The chapel is still pitch dark by the time we arrive. It gives the chapel a feeling of serenity and calm. They would have the traditional 7 readings, and somewhere in between is my all-time favorite "Go down, Moses." (Which I've written about several times already.)

Here's my super duper favorite part. For the first time in 40 days, the congregation once again sings the "Gloria", and all the lights in the chapel come on. This is always a breathtaking and emotional moment for me.

After the readings and the gospel, the Litany of the Saints is sang. This signals the procession to the basement where the Easter baptism occurs. Again, this is another emotional highlight for me.

Everyone then takes a short break to let the new Catholics change clothes, and everyone heads back up to the main chapel for the resumption of the mass. Once it begins again, the new Catholics walk around the chapel, hand-in-hand, amidst songs and applause from the mass goers. This is the part when my heart really swells with joy, seeing new Catholics - young and old - proudly joining our family.

Then, the mass concludes, and we all greet each other a Happy Easter. And usually, the priests will also be in front of the Chapel to greet everyone as well.

After that, we have dinner in Roppongi, or go back to Nakano.

That's how we usually spend the Easter Vigil, and I look forward to doing it again soon.

Easter blessings

Thanks to my spending the past 4 or 5 Holy Weeks in Tokyo, one of the highlights of my Easter Sunday is the baptism of the new Catholics.

In Tokyo, it was commonplace to see children and adults being baptized, as opposed to the babies which we usually see here in Manila. In Tokyo, the age ranges from about 10 years old to 40-plus. One time, we even saw an 80-plus year old lady being baptized!

Today is Easter, and this ritual just hit closer to home.

One of my nieces in Spain - Alejandra - was baptized today. At the age of 19, she fully embraced
Christianity and chose to be receive the sacrament.

And to make this blessing even more blessed, she was baptized by Pope Francis in Rome.

It was such a big deal that she made it to the news in her home country.

This is truly a blessed day for Ale, and all of us. It's not everyday that a family member gets baptized by the Pope.

Happy Easter!

Mexxed up Easter

(Jenny's food photos)

On Easter Sunday, Mark and I decided to host lunch for the IH gang. (Which is basically composed of 3 other people. Harhar.) Having discovered the joys of quesadilla making a few days ago, we decided that our theme for lunch would be Mexican food.

I prepared quesadillas and beef nachos, while Mark made the seafood paella and salsa. Thankfully, our creations were well received. And it was the fitting centerpiece to hours of fun conversation and endless stories about anything and everything under the sun.

Happy Easter everyone!

Hallelujah!

Ever since we were kids, Easter has always been celebrated with much aplomb. There's the Easter Mass, the jumping up and down, the Easter brunches, and of course, the Easter Egg hunts. So, it was really a celebration.

But even if you strip it to the barest minimum, (read: no parties or Easter egg hunts,) Easter is definitely worth celebrating. After all, this is the day that Our Lord and savior was resurrected.

And no other hymn captures this thought and lesson like Handel's Hallelujah Chorus.

For the lord God omnipotent reigneth.

The kingdom of this world;
is become
the kingdom of our Lord,
and of His Christ.

And He shall reign forever and ever.

Hallelujah.


(video courtesy of youtube)

With a promise like this, how can one not rejoice?