A centuries-old Filipino Lenten devotion is being introduced to a new generation through “Pray40: The Return,” which brings the “pabasa ng pasyon” to a global digital platform by blending guided prayer with local tradition.
Developed through the Catholic prayer and meditation app Hallow, the initiative features weekly pabasa segments led by Fr. Franz Dizon of the Diocese of Malolos, combining traditional chant with scripture readings and reflections to make the practice accessible to Filipinos worldwide.
The project, coordinated locally by Catholic speaker Bernz Ordoñez Caasi, reframes the pabasa not only as a spiritual exercise but also as a means of preserving Filipino devotional heritage in the digital era.
Unlike earlier versions, this year’s Pray40 places a distinctly Filipino devotion at the center of a global platform by embedding the pabasa ng pasyon — which recounts the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ — into the app’s Lenten journey.
For Caasi, the approach is both pastoral and practical, aimed at reaching a generation shaped by screens without losing the depth of tradition.
“How do we evangelize people who are glued to their smartphones? Of course, we can bring the gospel through the phones that they use, but also encourage them to learn how to pray, even without their devices,” he told the Varsitarian.
Traditionally, the pabasa is communal and time-intensive, often performed continuously over several days in parishes and neighborhoods. Its adaptation into digital form required careful selection and adjustment.
“Ang idea ng mga Pilipino sa pasyon is may mga lola na kumakanta. Minsan wala sa tono, minsan nasa tono. That’s the authentic pasyon experience. What you’re gonna hear in the Hallow app is a little bit refined. We have a professional choir and a professional musician doing it,” Caasi said.
In shaping the practice for the app, the team chose not to replicate every detail of the traditional format but to preserve its central message.
Dizon, a parochial vicar of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish in the Diocese of Malolos and a theology graduate student at UST, structures each weekly segment with a reflection, followed by a Scripture reading and the chanting of the pabasa.
To ensure fidelity to tradition, Hallow Philippines partnered with the Vox Animae Choir of Bulacan. Each segment highlights different tonalities, reflecting how pabasa melodies vary across provinces.
Pray40 runs for 47 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, combining daily reflections, scripture, and guided prayer. The format is designed to simulate a pilgrimage experience — what Caasi described as a “digital pilgrimage” — allowing users to engage in prayer regardless of location or stage in faith.
The initiative also unites global and local voices. While international figures contribute to the broader Pray40 journey, the pabasa segments emphasize Filipino Catholic voices, including Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara, and Fr. Fiel Pareja, alongside Dizon and media personalities such as Maris Umali, Wendell Ramos, and Candy Pangilinan.
Caasi said the team continues to expand its network of contributors, integrating more Filipino voices to make the experience relatable while remaining grounded in Church tradition.
Launched in the United States in 2018 with nine sessions, Hallow initially offered English-only content before expanding to other languages, including Spanish, Polish, and Portuguese.
When Caasi began leading Philippine operations, the app incorporated Filipino content such as Tagalog and Cebuano prayers, Bible readings, the rosary, and novenas, part of what he described as a “global and local” approach to spirituality.
The digital pabasa is now available as a standalone collection within the app, alongside other Lenten devotions such as Visita Iglesia and the Stations of the Cross, allowing users to access it beyond Holy Week.
Hallow has recorded more than 30 million downloads worldwide, including about 2.6 million users in the Philippines.
