Thousands flock to Sabah churches on Good Friday

KOTA KINABALU: Thousands of Catholics thronged churches in Sabah for the Good Friday service on Friday (April 7), joining others around the world in welcoming the Easter celebrations this week.

For Catholics, the Easter week, or Holy Week, is commemorated through the Easter Triduum that lasts for three days starting with Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, also known as the Easter Vigil.

The single celebration of the Easter Triduum marks the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Triduum also marks the end of the Lenten season, a 40-day period devoted to fasting, prayer and almsgiving that began on Ash Wednesday on Feb 22.

In his Easter message, Bishop Datuk Cornelius Piong of the Keningau diocese said the resurrection of Christ is the source and the core of Christians' faith, hope and love as disciples of Jesus.

"May the celebration of Easter 2023 give us a new spirit, thanks to the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, to want to journey together as His disciples, faithfully come to Him, listen to His Word, and to be able to do His will," he said.

Mitchelle George and her elder sister Esther attended the Good Friday service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Karamunsing here where the faithful packed the two sessions for the 3pm and 6pm service.

The Good Friday liturgy consisted of, namely, the Liturgy of the Word followed by Solemn Intercessions, Veneration of the Cross and Communion service with hosts consecrated on Holy Thursday.

Mitchelle said it was heartening to see so many people returning to the church after the Covid-19 restrictions in the past three years.

She said the restrictions for last year's Easter celebrations, which fell on April 17, were still in place following the government's announcement of Malaysia's transition into the endemic phase on April 1.

"People still had concerns last year but this year, there were very few restrictions, if at all, and I think that is the reason why so many have come back to the church," she said, when met at the 3pm service.

"Despite that, many are still keeping themselves safe, including us, by wearing face masks although it is no longer compulsory.

"But it's beautiful to see the faithful all together again, welcoming the most important celebration in the church," Mitchelle said.