Duterte reminds faithful: ‘God’s presence felt thru charitable acts’

FILE: It is through helping others that we can make God’s presence felt, President Rodrigo R. Duterte said as he reminded the faithful in time for the start of the observance of Holy Week on Sunday. (KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

MANILA — It is through helping others that we can make God’s presence felt, President Rodrigo R. Duterte said as he reminded the faithful in time for the start of the observance of Holy Week on Sunday.

In his Holy Week message, Duterte said that as much as it was a time to “rekindle” religious fervor, it should also be a time to “reflect” on Catholic values such as helping the less-fortunate.

“This is a time to revitalize our faith and renew our relationship with God and our fellowmen. As we put our hands together in prayer, may we use this as an opportune time to rekindle our religious fervor and cherish our time-honored traditions as a pious people,” Duterte said in his message.

“As we reflect on the Catholic values and embody selflessness, compassion and love instilled in us through the years, let us remember to always help and uplift the downtrodden because it is only through charitable actions that we can make God’s presence visible among us,” he added.

Duterte, meanwhile, encouraged the faithful to take a moment to “pause in the spirit of contemplation.”

At the same time, he reminded Filipinos to “unite” as one people to build a “truly equitable and inclusive nation where everyone can enjoy a decent and comfortable life.”

Duterte also wished Filipinos a “meaningful” and “solemn” observance of Holy Week.

Malacañang earlier said that Duterte will spend the Holy Week break and his birthday in his hometown, Davao City.

“He will be in Davao. Our President will just be in Davao during the Holy Week,” Presidential Spokesperson Roque said in a Palace briefing.

Last year, Duterte visited three Middle Eastern countries — Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar — during the Holy Week, to meet with state leaders and the Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there.

This year, Holy Week will be observed from March 25, Palm Sunday, until April 1, Easter Sunday.