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Devotees trek up Mt. Tapochao today
The 30-foot wooden cross that will be carried by devout Catholics up Mt. Tapochao this morning has been mounted on display for the entire community to see since the beginning of Holy Week last Sunday. The cross will be mounted on the highest peak of Mt. Tapochao today for the duration of the year and will be replaced next Good Friday. (Kimberly A. Bautista)
Hundreds of devote Catholics will make their way up the highest point on Saipan today in remembrance of Christ’s journey before he was crucified.
Today is popularly known as Good Friday for those who are believers of the Christian faith. Good Friday is part of the Holy Week celebration that started last Sunday, popularly known as Palm Sunday.
Every year, a selected parish on Saipan is given the opportunity to organize the Good Friday trek and this year, the role was given to the San Antonio Parish.
According to Father Romil Aperocho preparations for the trek started as early as Wednesday. The Saipan Mayor’s Office started the road clearing and tent mounting on Wednesday and completed the job on Thursday.
The trek will commence at approximately 5:30am today. Aperocho said the community is welcome to gather at the San Antonio Parish beginning 4:30am to start the convoy to pick up the 30-foot cross from the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa.
Rumors spread that this year food will no longer be distributed. According to Aperocho, organizations are still welcome to distribute food as long as it is in compliance with the fasting done before the trek, which means all food distributed must be without meat.
According to Aperocho, the community can also expect something new during the Resurrection Day mass on Sunday.
Aperocho said the San Antonio Parish has prepared an enkuentro or “encounter of Jesus” that will lead into the Sunday Mass.
The mass will begin after procession or after the picture of the Mother Dela Rosa and the Risen Jesus statue are carried and placed at the mass grounds, and after the veil of sorrow is removed from the Mother Dela Rosa.
The San Antonio Parish is encouraging the community to partake in both the trek and the Resurrection Day mass. A potluck is encouraged after the Resurrection Day mass.
