Holy Thursday

Today's last mass, officially called "misa san katapusan nga panihapun" was presided over by Bishop Isabelo Abarquez at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. It's actually a mass that "ends " or gets "completed" on Easter Vigil. The mass ends not with the final blessing but with the transfer of the Holy Eucharist to a "monumento" in front of which the faithful will take turns to do what is traditionally referred to as "pagbantay san santissimo". Another important part of the celebration is the washing of the feet of the apostles or pamusa san tiil san mga apostoles.

I managed to takes some pictures (courtesy of my old mobile phone, as usual) from the area which I occupy as the commentator, and that explains the not-so-near shots.

The ceriales as they approached the sanctuary, followed by the apostoles (pix below)

The Bishop makes his entrance

The Bishop "disrobes" as he prepared for the washing of the feet

The Bishop as he led the faithful in the veneration of the Blessed Sacrament, before it went on procession inside the Cathedral

The silent veneration which ended today's celebration