Mahal na Araw is not a single event — it is a week of events, each with its own requirements, volunteers, and logistical needs. Palm Sunday procession. Visita Iglesia. Stations of the Cross. Maundy Thursday washing of feet. Good Friday three-hour service. Black Saturday prayer vigil. Easter sunrise service. Easter main service.
For the church secretary or event coordinator, this is the most demanding week of the year. Here is how to use StewardTrack to manage it.
Start the Calendar Two Months Out
By early February, every Holy Week event should be on the StewardTrack calendar with accurate dates, times, and locations. This gives ministry leaders time to plan around the schedule and prevents conflicts.
Assign Ministry Leads to Each Event
Each Holy Week event needs a responsible ministry lead — someone who owns the logistics for that specific event. In StewardTrack, you can assign a ministry lead to each calendar event and track their preparation progress through goals and objectives.
Volunteer Scheduling
Holy Week requires significantly more volunteers than a normal Sunday. Use the service scheduler to map out all volunteer positions for every event in the week. Categories might include:
- Ushers and crowd management
- Sound and lighting
- Worship team (different teams for different services)
- Children's ministry (for Easter services especially)
- Parking and traffic management
- Refreshments (for post-service fellowship)
Send volunteer confirmation messages through StewardTrack at least two weeks before Mahal na Araw. Follow up with reminders three days before.
Communication Campaigns
Use StewardTrack's communication tools to send targeted messages to different segments of your congregation. For example:
- All members: Full Holy Week schedule with times
- Volunteers: Their specific assignments and call times
- Youth members: Special invitation to youth-focused events
- New members: Personal invitation message from the pastor
After Easter: Follow Up on Visitors
Easter services often have the highest attendance of the year, with many visitors and returning inactive members. Use the QR registration system to capture visitor information at Easter services. Then within a week, send a personal follow-up message. The bayanihan starts here.
