Catholic News

VILNIUS, Lithuania — On the northern edge of Lithuania's capital, pilgrims walk a 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) route known as Vilnius Calvary, a landscape of chapels, gates, hills, and a small bridge designed to reflect the topography and distances of Jerusalem's Way of the Cross.

At the center of the route stands the Church of the Discovery of the Holy Cross, located in the city's Jeruzale (Jerusalem) neighborhood. Unlike the familiar 14 Stations of the Cross found in many Catholic parishes, Vilnius Calvary leads pilgrims through 35 stations, making it one of Europe's largest outdoor Stations of the Cross ensembles.

A Lithuanian 'Jerusalem' built for pilgrims

The devotion of the Stations of the Cross, strongly promoted across Europe through Franciscan tradition, developed in part as a spiritual alternative for Christians unable to make the long, costly, and dangerous journey to the Holy Land.

Vilnius Calvary gave that tradition a local form by integrating prayer with geography: Pilgrims walk a route laid across hills and valleys, with places bearing biblical names creating a pilgrimage experience shaped by movement as well as meditation.

In practice, planners modeled the route using pilgrimage accounts, devotional guides, early maps of Jerusalem, and traditions preserved by the Franciscans, who long served as custodians of holy sites in the Holy Land. These descriptions were then adapted to Vilnius' natural landscape so that pilgrims could experience the Via Dolorosa not only through prayer but also through the physical rhythm of walking, ascent, and pause.

Founded in gratitude

Vilnius Calvary took shape in the late 17th century following the wars that brought severe destruction to Vilnius and the surrounding region. At the time, Vilnius belonged to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was seized during the mid-1600s conflicts involving Muscovite (tsarist Russian) forces. Lithuanian forces and their allies later recaptured the city, and Church leaders established the Calvary as a public act of thanksgiving for the restoration of the capital.

The project was initiated by Vilnius Bishop Jurgis Bialozoras, who allocated roughly 140 hectares of land from his Verkiai Manor estate to build a church, various chapels, and the pilgrimage path. The area was chosen because its terrain allowed for a symbolic "Jerusalem" in Lithuania: Hills were assigned biblical names such as Golgotha, Zion, and the Mount of Olives, while a nearby stream recalled the Kidron Valley.

The church and the Way of the Cross were solemnly consecrated on June 9, 1669, on the feast of Pentecost.

Why 35 stations of the cross?

The 35-station structure reflects an older "Passion route" tradition in which the devotion extends beyond the standard 14 stations. In such traditions, the pilgrimage includes additional moments associated with Christ's final hours as well as devotional scenes linked to the Church's meditation on the Passion.

In Vilnius Calvary, the route begins not with Christ's condemnation but reaches back to earlier moments of the Passion, including the Last Supper, Christ's journey toward the Mount of Olives, and his interrogation before Annas and Caiaphas.

The pilgrimage then continues through the later stages of the Passion and extends beyond the Crucifixion. It also draws meaning from the church's title, the Discovery of the Holy Cross, linking the devotion not only to Christ's suffering but  also to the Church's proclamation of the cross as the source of salvation.

Destruction and rebuilding

For centuries, Vilnius Calvary served as a major site of popular devotion, especially at Pentecost, when large crowds traditionally gathered for prayer and preaching along the route.

The site was damaged during the Napoleonic Wars, when French forces occupied the Verkiai forest area and used the church as a barracks and a hospital. Some chapels were damaged, and the church was plundered during the army's retreat following their failed invasion of Russia.

The most severe destruction came under Soviet rule. In 1962, communist authorities demolished most of the chapels, leaving only a small number of structures nearest the church intact.

After Lithuania regained independence in 1990, reconstruction began. The restored chapels were solemnly blessed again at Pentecost in 2002. Over roughly a decade, the ensemble was rebuilt with 16 masonry chapels, seven wooden gates, one masonry gate, and a bridge structure, restoring the route as a full pilgrimage path.

The church at the center of the pilgrimage

The Church of the Discovery of the Holy Cross is not simply a landmark along the route. It is also the spiritual center of the ensemble and the culmination of the pilgrimage. Its position on a high hill is intended to correspond symbolically to Golgotha, and the main altar, dedicated to the crucified Christ, is treated as the central devotional point of the Way of the Cross.

The church also contains an 18th-century silver gilded reliquary containing a relic of the holy cross, which is decorated with rhinestones.

A living devotion in modern Vilnius

Vilnius Calvary remains active as a place of prayer. The route is used throughout the year for organized Stations of the Cross, including regular Friday devotions and monthly pilgrimages. The Secular Franciscans in Vilnius also unite their prayer with the Franciscans in Jerusalem, reflecting the devotion's historical connection to the Holy Land.

Elzbieta Uckuronyte, a lifelong parishioner at the church, told EWTN News that the Stations of the Cross at Vilnius Calvary had become deeply personal to her over time.

"The first time I went, I didn't fully understand it," she said. "But as my faith has grown, I've come to see the value in the discomfort — kneeling on stones, walking in rain or snow, crossing hills and streams. It isn't easy, but it reflects the hardship Christ endured, and there is a quiet beauty in that."

For many pilgrims, Vilnius Calvary offers something rare in a modern European capital: a sustained Passion pilgrimage shaped not only by texts and stations but also by distance, landscape, and public religious memory.

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Pope Leo XIV spoke by phone with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Good Friday.

The Vatican said the pope spoke separately with both presidents on April 3. They exchanged Easter and Passover greetings. Leo also spoke with the presidents about the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and highlighted the need for continued humanitarian aid.

The Middle East and Ukraine continue to be plagued by armed conflicts. The U.S. and Israeli conflict with Iran has entered a new phase with U.S. President Donald Trump this week vowing stronger military action against Iran. The Russia-Ukraine War continues to claim casualties and has entered its fourth year.

A statement from the office of the Israeli president said Herzog discussed the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran with the pope, including "the ongoing threat of missile attacks by the Iranian regime and its terror proxies against people of all faiths in the region."

The statement also said that Herzog recalled to Leo recent Iranian missile attacks on Jerusalem, and his insistence that Hezbollah continues to be a threat to stability in the Middle East.

The telephone discussions followed Leo's public plea on March 31 in which he again called for an unconditional ceasefire and expressed hopes that Trump would be "looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing." In that same plea, he also called for an Easter truce for both conflicts.

The discussion between the pope and the Israeli president also followed an incident in Jerusalem on March 29, where the Latin patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, was denied access to the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday by Israeli police.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land later reached an agreement with Israeli authorities, permitting access for Church representatives to celebrate Masses and religious rites while restrictions on public gatherings remain in force.

Neither the office of the Israeli president nor the Vatican commented on whether the pope and Herzog discussed the incident in Jerusalem.

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A new study found that the Shroud of Turin — the cloth believed to have been used to bury Jesus Christ after his crucifixion — contains traces from multiple geographic regions spanning several centuries.

As originally reported by the official Vatican News outlet, the recent study, now available as a preprint, was made by several geneticists, including Dr. Gianni Barcaccia of the University of Padua.

In their study, researchers explained that DNA testing could not definitively date the Shroud of Turin but revealed its extensive handling by many individuals over its centuries-long existence. They described it as a "diverse mosaic of genetic traces," including those from the Mediterranean, India, and even from North America.

"In brief, a reappraisal of those outcomes from the analysis of the DNA traces found on the Shroud of Turin suggests the potentially extensive exposure of the cloth in the Mediterranean region," the researchers wrote. "DNA traces from various species and regions, including the Middle East, Mediterranean, Europe, America, and Asia, indicate that the shroud was exposed to different environments and peoples."

The Shroud of Turin has been venerated for centuries by Christians as the burial shroud of Jesus and is among the most famous relics associated with his passion. The authenticity of the Shroud of Turin and its connection to Christ have been the subjects of scientific debate.

In 1988, researchers traced it to medieval origins around 1350, casting doubt on whether it was the actual burial cloth of Christ and on whether it came from the Holy Land.

However, the researchers assert in their recent article that the presence of H33, a rare genetic strand, supports their claim that the relic passed through the Middle East at some point in its history.

"H33 is a rare haplogroup found today mainly in the Near East, especially among the Druze, an Arabic-speaking ethnoreligious minority currently present in the Holy Land, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. In particular, the Druze population shares common genetic ancestry with Jews and Cypriots and has historically intermixed with other Levantine populations, including Palestinians and Syrians," they said.

The Catholic Church has no official position on the relic's authenticity. It is presently located at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy.

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ROME — Hundreds of pilgrims in Rome visited churches to pray before special side altars containing the blessed sacrament, called altars of repose, on Holy Thursday.

The altars of repose are a popular devotion in the Catholic Church during Holy Week. The practice begins with the Mass of the Lord's Supper on the evening of Holy Thursday, when Catholics commemorate the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood.

Afterward, a priest carries the Eucharist in solemn procession from the altar where Mass was celebrated to a decorated side altar lit with candles and sometimes plants and flowers, where it remains for adoration until midnight.

In Rome, many churches open their doors at night to welcome pilgrims to pray before the Blessed Sacrament at the altar of repose.

The tradition recalls Jesus' request to his disciples to "keep watch with me" in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before his crucifixion.

Lucía Dero Herrero, a pilgrim to Rome from Madrid, Spain, described her experience of the tradition at the Basilica di Sant'Apollinare as a profound moment of connection with God.

"The ceremony and the church were so beautiful," Lucia told EWTN News. "It helped me to pray and to realize that this is the night it all begins. In a sense, [Jesus] has already been captured, and the next day, he will be crucified."

Many pilgrims participated in the tradition for the first time. Maureen Finnegan, a 75-year-old woman from Liverpool, United Kingdom, was one. She described visiting the altar of repose at the Venerable English College as a true testament to our faith.

"It was lovely to see the church just absolutely packed. The singing was amazing. It's certainly a different experience from back home in Liverpool. The whole thing was traditional, and I feel so privileged to have been a part of it."

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Ahead of Easter, Bishop Vitalii Kryvytski, SDB, of Kyiv-Zhytomyr in Ukraine warned against conflicts spreading to unexpected places around the world as the war in the Middle East continues unabated.

"There are people, politicians, and countries that continue to actively help our country, Ukraine, stand its ground," the bishop told "EWTN News Nightly" on April 1. "Will there be fewer such people now that the war in the Middle East has begun? Most likely, yes."

He continued: "I believe that this situation in the Middle East could demonstrate that if we do not put an end to this war and end it justly, then in reality, the conflict could spread even to countries that never even imagined it reaching them."

Christian town in Lebanon mourns father and son killed in strike

In the Christian town of Debel, Lebanon, grief deepened after an Israeli strike killed a father and his son, an attack residents described as another blow to a civilian population already living under constant fear, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported Sunday.

Eli Zognoun, a 27-year-old architect from Debel, said the community is reeling with shock and sorrow over the deaths, adding that the local priest called for prayers for the victims and for the protection of civilians who have stayed behind. He said the two men, George and Elie Soueid, were peaceful civilians deeply attached to their land and families and had been using the only humanitarian road open between Debel and Rmeish in an effort to return home safely.

The Israeli army and Hezbollah have been clashing for days near Debel, where more than 1,700 people still live, according to L'Orient Today, which reported that the Christian villages in south Lebanon remain mostly populated "despite the ongoing Israeli invasion and intense skirmishes with Hezbollah in many regions."

The report also said "the president of the Dibil municipal council, Akl Naddaf, told the LBCI channel that the residents had 'asked the authorities to grant them permission to move about safely, but without success.' Naddaf added that the situation in the village is deteriorating day by day and that the residents are no longer able to meet their most basic needs."

Chinese cardinal's Easter message urges hope, care for young people amid wars

Cardinal Stephen Chow, SJ, has called on the Chinese government to give young people who have committed minor crimes a "second chance" and for parents to protect their children from the country's competitive culture.

"Allow me to call on parents and schools to protect our children by not allowing them to go under the life-sapping and blindingly competitive culture, although a relatively small number of students may thrive in it," Chow said in his Easter Message 2026, which was addressed to the faithful of Hong Kong. Citing steadily high suicide rates among young people, Chow also called on the government to "reduce the use of 'Key Performance Indicator' (KPI) so as to allow our educators more time and space to better accompany their students." The message came as Chow noted "the spreading of hate and violence" on social media and around the world ahead of Easter.

Cameroon airport carries out test flights ahead of Pope Leo's visit

Two aircraft operated by Cameroon's national airline, Camair-Co, successfully landed at Bamenda Airport on Sunday, March 29, in a major step toward final preparations for the planned apostolic visit of Pope Leo XIV to the country planned to take place April 15–18.

"This deployment serves as a convincing full-scale rehearsal to ensure maximum safety during the visit of the sovereign pontiff, scheduled for April 16," said Adolphe Lele Lafrique, governor of the Northwest Province of the Republic of Cameroon, after the test, according to ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, on Tuesday.

Missionaries travel 2 by 2 into Albania countryside

Missionaries with the National Direction of the Pontifical Mission Societies traveled across the the Diocese of Rrëshen to provide pastoral care to rural communities throughout March.

Traveling in pairs — one religious priest and either a religious or layperson — the missionaries traversed to rural areas across the mountains of northern Albania, where only six priests minister to a region of about 10,000 people, according to a Fides News Agency report.

"A blessing, a word of comfort, a simple gesture are essential tools that have made the mission concrete," said Father Agustin Margjoni, a Vincentian missionary and Pontifical Mission Societies national director. "In a time dominated by digital communication, human contact has once again proven irreplaceable."

Irish diocese apologizes after visiting priest says 'evil demons' cause autism

The Diocese of Kerry issued a statement after a visiting member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal said during a homily at a local parish that "evil demons" were the source of autism.

"At the recent parish mission in Boherbue Parish, a visiting missioner, a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal based in Limerick, made a comment during a talk," the diocese said, according to a report from the Irish Times on Wednesday. "The remark, which referenced autism, was intended as an illustrative example but was poorly expressed and inappropriate. It was acknowledged that the comment was not appropriate, and a sincere apology was offered at the time for any hurt or offense caused."

The statement said the priest in question "deeply regrets that the remark caused upset," adding: "We again apologize to anyone who may have been hurt by it."

Church in India offers praise for country's new climate objectives

Catholic Bishops' Conference of India Chairman Bishop Allwyn D'Silva is celebrating India's new plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2070.

"I commend the government's updated climate commitments as they build on the success of surpassing renewable energy targets ahead of time and commit to increasing carbon sinks through expanded forest and tree cover," D'Silva said, according to an UCA News report Wednesday.

Under the new plan, India said it plans to achieve 60% non-fossil-fuel electricity capacity, expand carbon sinks through forests and tree cover, and reduce the intensity of emissions by 47% by 2035, the report said.

Mozambique bishop urges solidarity with flood and conflict victims during Holy Week

Bishop Osório Citora Afonso of the Quelimane Diocese in Mozambique is calling for the faithful to approach Holy Week with mercy toward those impacted by natural disasters and ongoing violence in the country.

"The celebration of Holy Week should be marked by a spirit of solidarity, especially toward those affected by the recent floods and the conflict in Cabo Delgado," he said in a March 28 statement, according to an ACI Africa report on Monday.

The bishop urged the faithful to support the vulnerable through visits, assistance, and acts of charity. "Christ walks with us," he said. "In the cross, we see the pain of families who have lost everything, the cries of children, and the exhaustion of those trying to rebuild their lives."

St. Martin's Day tradition officially recognized by German UNESCO commission

Martinsfest, held on St. Martin's Day ("Martinstag") on Nov. 11 every year, is a major cultural tradition in the Rhineland and is now officially recognized by the German Commission for UNESCO, according to a report by CNA Deutsch, the German-language sister service of EWTN News.

"The Conference of Ministers of Culture of the Länder and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media have today included five further traditions in the National Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage," the commission announced on March 27.

St. Martin's traditions include lantern parades, traditional songs, bonfires, and the telling of the story of St. Martin. "Today, the Martin's tradition is a firmly anchored part of the public and cultural life of many places in the Rhineland," the UNESCO commission said.

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Prime Video and 5&2 Studios announced April 3 that the sixth season of "The Chosen" will be released in the U.S. and internationally exclusively on Prime Video on Nov. 15.

Season 6 of "The Chosen" will include six episodes, the first three of which will debut on Nov. 15, followed by the release of a weekly episode through Dec. 6.

The season finale will be a stand-alone theatrical release in spring 2027.

The highly anticipated sixth season will portray the 24 hours of Good Friday — culminating in Christ's crucifixion.

"Everyone knows the basics of this part of the story, but not everyone knows the 'why' of the crucifixion and the extraordinary events of these 24 hours," Dallas Jenkins, creator, writer, and director of "The Chosen," said in a press release. "We realized this not only deserved a season of television but a stand-alone full-length theatrical event as well. We wrote and filmed all of it with this in mind."

The show's star, actor Jonathan Roumie, has spoken about his experience portraying Jesus' passion and crucifixion.

"For the first few months afterwards going to Mass — and even thinking about it now — I just get weepy. I get emotional. It's hard. It's left an indelible impression on me — mentally and emotionally sharing even just a percentage, a micron of a percentage, of the Lord's passion; playing it and reenacting it has left me absolutely humbled and moved," he told EWTN News at ChosenCon on Feb. 20.

The show's cast spent three weeks filming the crucifixion in Matera, Italy, in June 2025. In a press conference held at the Vatican at the end of that time, Jenkins called the three weeks "the most challenging and difficult we had in filming," requiring him to surrender everything to Christ.

Abe Bueno-Jallad, the actor who portrays Big James, or James the Great, told EWTN News that during filming, he had "never seen the cast so focused."

He added that the actors were "all there for each other … Everybody is carrying such a heavy burden this season as an actor."

"There's just been incredible stuff happening on set. I've come back to set on days that I don't work just to watch and I've seen stuff that gives me goosebumps," he shared.

In 2025, Amazon MGM Studios and 5&2 Studios signed a deal that made Prime Video the exclusive U.S. streaming partner for "The Chosen." The deal also provides streaming rights to 5&2 Studios' future projects including "The Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls," "The Chosen Adventures," and "Joseph of Egypt."

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Good Friday is considered for many one of the holiest days of the liturgical year. Part of the Triduum, Good Friday is the day the Church turns its attention to the cross on Calvary. It is the somber day Jesus Christ was crucified.

Catholic churches everywhere can be seen with a bare altar and with the door of the empty tabernacle open. As the Church mourns, Catholics are also called to solemnly observe this holy day.

Here are some ways you can solemnly celebrate Good Friday:

1. Attend the celebration of the Lord's passion at your local parish

Mass is not celebrated on Good Friday. However, Catholic churches will offer a service celebrating the Lord's passion with holy Communion and veneration of the cross. These services are normally held at 3 p.m. because that is the time Jesus died on the cross.

2. Participate in the Stations of the Cross

In addition to offering a service celebrating the Lord's passion, many parishes will also have Stations of the Cross later in the evening. This is a wonderful opportunity to meditate on the events that took place on Good Friday, which led to Jesus' passion and crucifixion.

3. Fast

Throughout Lent, Catholics are encouraged to fast on all Fridays. On Good Friday, strive to observe the obligatory full day of fasting by consuming no more than one full meal and two smaller meals that do not equal the one larger meal. In addition to fasting from food, you can also fast from social media, television, or radio in order to spend more time meditating on the significance of the day.

4. Read the Lord's passion in the Bible

If you're unable to attend a celebration of the Lord's passion or Stations of the Cross, try to find time to spend in Scripture. Jesus' crucifixion can be found in Mark 15, Luke 23, John 18, and Matthew 27.

5. Spend time in prayer

Spending time with the Lord in prayer is a great way to solemnly celebrate Good Friday. You can simply spend time speaking with Jesus or sit in silence as you allow yourself to be in his presence. Other prayers you can include are the Litany of the Passion and the Seven Sorrows of Mary. You can also pray the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary. Or, you can begin the Divine Mercy Novena, which starts today.

This story was first published on April 7, 2023, and has been updated.

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The Good Friday Reproaches are a series of antiphons, known also as the "Improperia" or "Popule Meus" ("My People"), coming from the opening lines of the Latin text of the recitation.

Dating back to the ninth century, though not gaining a permanent place in the Roman orders until the 14th century, the Good Friday Reproaches have long been an essential part of the Roman liturgy. But they largely disappeared from many parishes following the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

The antiphons have, however, retained their prominence at the Vatican — and are normally chanted by the Sistine Chapel Choir during the Good Friday service in St. Peter's Basilica.

In the moment leading up to the dramatic recitation, the priest chants three times, in an increasing pitch, "Ecce lignum crucis," or "Behold the wood of the cross," each time gradually unveiling the cross that hitherto has been covered in a purple veil.

Once the crucifix is placed in a central location at the edge of the sanctuary, cast against a bare altar, the faithful are invited to kneel before — and kiss — it, a powerful remembrance of Christ's passion but also a recognition of the cross as an instrument of salvation.

During the adoration of the cross, the Good Friday Reproaches are chanted in an alternating manner between a cantor and choir. It opens: "Popule meus, quid feci tibi? Aut in quo contristavi te? Responde mihi" ("My people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me").

This hauntingly sorrowful and beautiful text is followed by the first reproach: "Quia eduxi te de terra Aegypti: parasti crucem Salvatori tuo" ("Because I led thee out of the land of Egypt: thou hast prepared a cross for thy Savior"), showcasing the world's fatal rejection of Christ despite his love and saving acts.

The following is the full text of the reproaches:

Popule meus, quid feci tibi?
Aut in quo contristavi te?
Responde mihi.
(O my people, what have I done to thee?
Or how have I offended you?
Answer me.)

Quia eduxi te de terra Aegypti:
parasti crucem Salvatori tuo.
(Because I led thee out of the land of Egypt:
thou hast prepared a cross for thy Savior.)

Hagios o Theos.
Sanctus Deus.
Hagios Ischyros.
Sanctus fortis.
Hagios Athanatos, eleison himas.
Sanctus immortalis, miserere nobis.
(O holy God!
O holy God!
O holy strong One!
O holy strong One!
O holy and immortal, have mercy upon us.
O holy and immortal, have mercy upon us.)

Quia eduxi te per desertum quadraginta annis:
et manna cibavi te, et introduxi te in terram satis bonam:
parasti crucem Salvatori tuo.
Hagios ...
(Because I led thee through the desert for 40 years:
and fed thee with manna, and brought thee into a land exceeding good:
Thou hast prepared a cross for thy Savior.
O holy God! ...)

Quid ultra debui facere tibi, et non feci?
Ego quidem plantavi te vineam meam speciosissimam:
et tu facta es mihi nimis amara:
aceto namque sitim meam potasti:
et lancea perforasti latus Salvatori tuo.
Hagios ...
(What more ought I to have done for thee, that I have not done?
I planted thee, indeed, my most beautiful vineyard:
and thou hast become exceeding bitter to me:
for in my thirst thou gavest me vinegar to drink:
and with a spear thou hast pierced the side of thy Savior.
O holy God! ...)

Ego propter te flagellavi Aegyptum cum primogenitis suis:
et tu me flagellatum tradidisti.
Popule meus ...
(For thy sake I scourged the firstborn of Egypt:
Thou hast given me up to be scourged.
O my people ...)

Ego te eduxi de Aegypto, demerso Pharone in mare Rubrum:
et tu me tradidisti principibus sacerdotum.
Popule meus ...
(I led thee out of Egypt, having drowned Pharaoh in the Red Sea:
and thou hast delivered me to the chief priests.
O my people ...)

Ego ante te aperui mare:
et tu aperuisti lancea latus meum.
Popule meus ...
(I opened the sea before thee:
and thou hast opened my side with a spear.
O my people ...)

Ego ante te praeivi in columna nubis:
et tu me duxisti ad praetorium Pilati.
Popule meus ...
(I went before thee in a pillar of cloud:
and thou hast led me to the judgment hall of Pilate.
O my people ...)

Ego te pavi manna in desertum:
et tu me cedisti alapis et flagellis.
Popule meus . . .
(I fed thee with manna in the desert:
and thou hast assaulted me with blows and scourges.
O my people ...)

Ego te potavi aqua salutis de petra:
et tu me potasti felle et aceto.
Popule meus ...
(I gave thee the water of salvation from the rock:
and thou hast given me gall and vinegar to drink.
O my people ...)

Ego propter te Chananeorum reges percussi:
et tu percussisti arundine caput meum.
Popule meus . . .
(For thy sake I struck the kings of the Canaanites:
and thou hast struck my head with a reed.
O my people ...)

Ego dedi tibi sceptrum regale:
et tu dedisti capiti meo spineam coronam.
Popule meus ...
(I gave thee a royal scepter:
and thou hast given a crown of thorns for my head.
O my people ...)

Ego te exaltavi magna virtute:
et tu me suspendisti in patibulo crucis.
Popule meus ...
(I exalted thee with great strength:
and thou hast hanged me on the gibbet of the cross.
O my people ...)

This story was first published on Good Friday 2024 and has been updated.

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MANILA, Philippines — Three Filipino bishops have urged the Catholic dioceses in the Philippines to support overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), migrants, and their families back home amid the economic crisis following the outbreak of the war with Iran on Feb. 28.

Bishop Socrates Mesiona, chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, said the Church monitors families of overseas workers in parishes nationwide.

This effort enables parishes to provide migrant families with pastoral care and material help, along with government agencies, he said.

Meanwhile, parishes and Church institutions are praying the "Oratio Imperata" (Latin for "Obligatory Prayer") for peace in the Middle East in all their Masses and prayer gatherings.

In a message, Bishop Broderick Soncuaco Pabillo, the apostolic vicar of Taytay in Palawan, said migrants and others must trust more in God as the world faces oil crises amid the war in the Middle East.

He urged OFWs not to lose hope in God and support the needs of families in the Philippines.

"It is worrisome that OFWs in the Middle East and their safety and jobs are at risk. The remittances they send to their families will be greatly affected," he said. "The price of oil and essential commodities is increasing. Let us not lose hope, because we will face this scenario with prayer and faith."

Another bishop, Ruperto Cruz Santos of Antipolo, urged OFWs to care for their safety with precautions, avoiding risky areas and staying informed about local situations.

"Let us remain vigilant in prayer and steadfast in hope. May our voices rise to heaven, pleading for an end to violence and the coming of lasting peace," he said.

He advised OFWs in the Middle East to stay indoors and in workplaces, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow instructions from embassy officials and government officials.

Given the current war situation, numerous OFWs face uncertainty, displacement, and separation from their families.

About 2.4 million Filipinos reside in the Middle East, mainly in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait. They work in construction, health care, and domestic services and are at high risk following the conflicts, which may lead to job loss, reduced income, and increased vulnerability to exploitation.

Nearly 1 million Filipinos live in the UAE, while Saudi Arabia has over 813,000; in Qatar, 250,000; and in Kuwait, over 106,000.

The Middle East remains a critical source of remittances for the Philippines, with a large concentration of workers in the Gulf region.

"Since the oil boom in the 1970s, Filipinos have been working there doing various skilled and semi-skilled jobs," Jeremaiah M. Opiniano, executive director of the Institute for Migration and Development Issues, told EWTN News.

"Like during the pandemic and other episodes of conflict (e.g., Israel and Palestine), naturally affected Filipinos seek shelter. They try to tell their loved ones back home not to worry, but both parties are worried," he added.

Plight of OPWs

The Philippines heavily depends on the Middle East for oil. The government has declared a state of national energy emergency following a rise in domestic fuel prices, which has impacted industries, transportation, logistics, trade, and agriculture. Moreover, workers and consumers face challenges in the crisis.

Christina Reys, 52, a mother of four adults from the Bicol region, is distressed because her son Rolando, a seafarer, is stuck in the Persian Gulf along with his crew, as their ship carrying oil cannot sail due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

"The ship cannot pass. We are worried for Rolando and his crew. We are seeking divine guidance and protection amid the war," she told EWTN News.

Since the onset of the war, the crew has remained on the ship, clinging to the hope of returning home.

According to Reys, the local parish is assisting her and her family with material and spiritual guidance, providing food, shelter, and emotional support to help them cope with the challenges they face during this difficult time.

The safety and livelihood of over 2 million Filipinos in the Middle East are at risk as well.

Repatriation

The government has begun repatriating Filipinos in high-risk areas like Iraq and Syria. As of March 30, as many as 3,347 OFWs from the Middle East returned to the Philippines via chartered flights, according to the Department of Migrant Workers, who said the repatriation efforts will continue for an unforeseen time.

Once an OFW has returned home, the government provides financial aid, medical assistance, and travel fares to the individual's home province.

If this crisis in the Middle East escalates and jobs are affected, there may be some job displacements and possibly disruptions in sending remittances, said Opiniano, who is also a professor at the Dominican-run University of Santo Tomas.

Stakeholders wishing to assist OFWs in the Middle East can do so by maintaining regular communication, helping their families save for emergencies, participating in repatriation efforts if desired, and continuing to pray.

All the more, families back home may want to maximize their memberships with the Social Security System, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG Fund should the family need resources, besides temporary aid from charity organizations and others, Opiniano explained.

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COLOGNE, Germany — Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki used his Holy Week homily to call priests back to the heart of their vocation: the daily celebration of the Eucharist.

Preaching at the chrism Mass at Cologne Cathedral on Monday evening — the annual liturgy at which priests renew their ordination promises before their bishop — the archbishop of Cologne urged the priests of his archdiocese to resist what he described as a troubling trend: the replacement of Sunday Mass with Communion services.

"I am concerned that Communion services — often with the distribution of holy Communion — are increasingly replacing the celebration of the Eucharist on Sundays," Woelki said. "That, dear brothers, is no longer Catholic, and I urgently ask you to counteract this from the outset!"

The services in question are Liturgy of the Word celebrations in which previously consecrated hosts are distributed to the faithful but no Mass is celebrated.

A call to daily Mass

Woelki devoted much of his homily to the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of the priest. The celebration of the Mass is "ultimately irreplaceable and cannot be substituted," he said, according to Cologne's Domradio.

The daily Mass is not merely a devotional practice but is "constitutive of our priestly being and activity," Woelki told the priests gathered in the cathedral, Domradio reported. He cautioned that if priests neglect the daily celebration, they risk further distancing the faithful from the opportunity to participate in the Eucharist.

"Even if only a few faithful or even no faithful at all should come to celebrate, its daily celebration is meaningful for us priests and spiritually essential for our very survival," the cardinal said.

Woelki appealed for a conscious return to the central role of the Eucharist, pointing to the practice of the early Church in which the community gathered around a single Sunday celebration. Reviving that spirit, he said, could strengthen parish unity and set in motion a "spiritual and Eucharistic renewal."

Cologne's challenges

By the number of registered Catholics, the Archdiocese of Cologne is one of the largest dioceses in Germany. Yet only about 6% of its Catholics regularly attend Sunday Mass, below the German national average of 6.8%.

Sunday Communion services have been an option in the archdiocese only in recent years. Woelki himself proposed the step as early as April 2022, according to reports from June 2023. The services were introduced in 2024.

This story was first published by CNA Deutsch, the German-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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