By Viory Janeo
I have always found the Paschal Triduum in UA&P to be one of the most solemn and meaningful celebrations of the year. There is something deeply moving in how the community comes together to enter into the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ. Each year, I look forward to the liturgical season of Lent—especially the solemn services of the Paschal Triduum—when we are invited to pause, reflect, and enter more deeply into the mystery of our faith.
This year, I accepted with gratitude the invitation to be a commentator for the Triduum services. The commentator’s role is simple—that is, to guide the congregation through the liturgy: explaining the parts, leading the responses, and instructing the faithful when to sit, kneel, and stand, so as to give proper reverence to each liturgical part.
Preparing for each celebration required careful reading and review, but more than that, it called for reflection. In immersing myself in the texts, I found that I was not merely understanding the liturgy—I was being drawn into it. The words became prayer, shaping the way I encountered the mystery of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection.
Sitting close to the altar, I witnessed the quiet actions that bring about the harmony of the liturgy. The altar servers and priest-celebrants moved with attentiveness and humility, each gesture deliberate and each action ordered toward the sacred. I noticed the humility of the priest-celebrants in allowing themselves to be guided by the altar servers and the priest emcee. There was no place for display—only a shared orientation toward something greater than themselves.
It was also a blessing to witness the quiet details, each imbued with care and love: the floral arrangements, thoughtfully prepared; the choir, offering their music in a way that facilitated prayer; the readers, who proclaimed the readings with clarity and reverence, helping bring the Word of God to life for the community; and the priest, chanting the parts of the liturgy with devotion. Even the air of reverence in the congregation spoke of a collective awareness that something sacred was unfolding. These were not mere embellishments; they were expressions of love—love made visible in the smallest acts.
The homilies centered on the greatest act of God for humanity—Christ’s charity and obedience, even unto death. From the Good Friday homily came the call to “watch and pray,” to remain with Him in His agony. In the Easter Vigil, we were invited to place ourselves within the Gospel—not merely as observers, but as important characters in the story. Together, these reflections formed a deep call that resonated in me: Am I among those who keep vigil, or those who fall asleep? Do I remain at the foot of the Cross, or do I turn away when it becomes difficult?
In serving, I came to realize that the best way to live Holy Week is to truly enter into it—to prepare, to be present, and to allow oneself to be moved and transformed. The Triduum is not merely something we attend; it is a mystery we are invited to live.
May the joy and peace of Christ’s Resurrection abide with us and our families! Blessings to the entire UA&P community!
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