MANILA, March 31 -- Catholic Church officials on Friday urged the faithful who will go on vacation not to forget the true essence of the Holy Week, which starts next week.

According to Fr. Jerome Secillano, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Public Affairs Committee (CBCP-PAC) executive secretary, those who will go out of town or take a vacation should balance relaxation and reflection in commemoration of the annual religious activity.

"Make sure that there is a balance in all these physical relaxation activities and the spirtual ones," he said in a telephone interview with reporters.

"If they can go to the beach, why not to the church also? There is a time for beach, there is a time for church," the Catholic priest said. ...