April 1, 2023
Dear members of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University community,
In the past month, the Catholic community in our university has been observing the holy days of Lent. By God’s grace, we have embarked on a journey of spiritual growth and transformation. As Lent comes to a close, we shall celebrate the most sacred time of the Catholic liturgical year: The Paschal Triduum.
As Pope Francis would remind us, the Paschal Triduum is the center of the Christian faith and vocation in the work. He has emphasized the importance of participating fully in the Triduum liturgies to immense oneself in the mystery of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection and encounter the transformative power of God’s love and mercy. Through the Triduum, Pope Francis says, we are called to embrace the suffering and sacrifice of Christ, to deepen our faith and hope in his resurrection, and to experience the joy and hope of new life in Christ.
Thus, in observance of the Pascal Triduum, there will be no work and classes on these dates:
- April 6, Holy Thursday
- April 7, Good Friday
- April 8, Holy Saturday
Work and classes will be called off in the afternoon of Wednesday, April 5, to give time for necessary preparations. Monday, April 10 (Day of Valor or Araw ng Kagitingan) has also been declared a national holiday.
I highly encourage the Catholic members of our community take part in our masses and Paschal Triduum liturgies here at the University Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus or in your respective parishes. For those attending AdZU liturgies, please be guided by the following schedule:
- PALM SUNDAY, April 2, 2023 – 11AM – FR RENE C TACASTACAS SJ (presider)
- HOLY THURSDAY, April 6, 2023 – 5PM – FR FRANCISCO PARILLA SJ (presider)
- GOOD FRIDAY, April 7, 2023 – 3PM – FR FRANCISCO BUSTAMANTE SJ (presider)
- EASTER VIGIL, April 8, 2023 – 8PM – FR GUILLREY ANTHONY ANDAL SJ (presider)
- EASTER SUNDAY, April 9, 2023, 11AM – FR EDWIN CASTILLO SJ (presider)
Holy Week Recollection April 6-8 (9:00AM – 12:00 noon)
Venue: Carlos Dominguez Conference Hall (CDCH), Salvador Campus, La Purisima St., ZC
(Note: To register, please contact MS FELICIA MONTAÑO: 991-0871, loc. 1008)
Recollection Speaker: FR ERNALD M ANDAL SJ
Sharers from the Community: ENGR STEVEN DIMAGUILA, MS I-C ZAMORA, AND MS GLADYS BADLON
May this holies of holy seasons be a time of grace and blessing for all of us. Let us walk together in faith, hope, and love as we journey toward Easter. God bless us all.
(sgd) FR ERNALD M ANDAL, SJ
University President
MEMO 22-23:25
