2024 Maundy Thursday – The Washing of the Feet

The Holy Week washing of the feet, also known as the Mandatum or Maundy Thursday, is a significant ritual in Catholicism that commemorates Jesus’ act of humility and service towards his disciples. This ritual reenacts the event described in the Gospel of John (John 13:1-17), where Jesus washes the feet of his disciples during the Last Supper.

The act of washing the feet was traditionally performed by servants, but Jesus, as a demonstration of his love and humility, took on this task himself. It serves as a powerful symbol of selfless service, humility, and the importance of serving others with love and compassion.

In the Catholic Church, the washing of the feet on Maundy Thursday is often performed by priests or bishops who wash the feet of twelve members of the congregation, symbolizing Jesus’ act of washing the feet of his twelve apostles. This ritual emphasizes the call to discipleship and the importance of imitating Christ’s example of humility and service in the Christian life. It also serves as a reminder of the unity and equality among believers, regardless of their social status or position within the Church.

Joining the German community in this celebration, six from the Filipino Community represented the 12 apostles. Noel Balansag from the Philippine Consulate; Gwendolyn Bussek from El Shaddai Group; Marichu de Caria from MFC; Grace Gorlach from Sacred Heart; Nita Gocatek from Divine Mercy and Carding Malabag from Spirit of Love. Rev. Fr. Christoph Soyer, SJ and Rev. Father Francis Ofrancia, who concelebrated the mass peformed the washing of the feet.