Unplugging for the Passion: A Holy Week Digital Detox

IN TODAY’S hyper connected society, it’s nearly impossible to imagine going a day without checking our phones, like a post, or responding to a message. In the Philippines, Gen Z has made the digital world their second home. 

It’s where they can socialize, express themselves, stay informed, and unwind. Even the most technologically aware generation, on occasion, requires a break from their regular routines.

Furthermore, social networking platforms can be toxic and mentally draining at times. Instead of providing serenity and relaxation, it can occasionally generate stress for some people. 

With that in mind, there’s no better time to take a much-needed break than during Holy Week, a solemn time for introspection, regeneration, and realignment. However, who truly makes it happen among Generation Z?

The Digital Dilemma of Gen Z

This is the generation that grew up with easy access to the internet. They don’t just consume media; they live within it. From morning TikTok scrolls to late-night Discord chats, their lives are inextricably linked to screens. 

While this digital immersion has benefits, it also has unintended consequences: worry, exhaustion, distraction, and disconnection—from ourselves, others, and even our faith.

In an interview with republicasia, Gen Z partners Ian Capati and Marga Davila-Capati discussed how they use this time to disengage from the digital world while simultaneously connecting more deeply with their faith. 

However, Ian found it difficult to leave behind his phone and the world of social media at times. This, he believes, is attributable to the fact that the digital realm has become addicting.

“The most difficult part was facing the fact that you are not holding your phone. There was an almost reflexive desire to check my phone, especially during idle moments,” Ian shared.

“But it revealed to me how subtly addictive digital noise has become, and how it destroys our interior recollection. It’s hard to examine yourself if you are constantly engaged with social media.”

“The challenge was not merely avoiding technology, but remaining faithful to the silence it created, without fleeing back to distractions,” he added.

Unplug for the Passion

“Unplugging for the Passion” entails more than just turning off our phones; it also entails opening up our emotions. It entails prioritizing stillness over scrolling, prayer over posting, and real-life experiences over Instagram stories.

“Unplugging helped me to meditate more this Holy Week and to see more of the needs of the people around me. It helped me be more aware of my surroundings and the blessings that I’ve been praying for,” Marga said.

“It helped me see how much Christ suffered for me to get a chance to go to Heaven and to experience a little bit of heaven here on Earth,”she went on to share.

Ian, like her, took advantage of this opportunity to develop his religion, despite the fact that he had been focused on his job as a news analyst for most of the year. Making him comprehend how this allowed for grace.

“Unplugging during Holy Week deepened my awareness of the sacred. I was more present in prayer, more attuned to the liturgy, and more capable of being in silence,” Ian said.

“It is good not to have social media for this week since it has created a space for grace to come in. It helps me focus not on the noise of the world but on the sorrow and love of Christ Crucified.”

“I found my mind and heart more disposed to contemplate the mysteries of the Passion, especially during the Sacred Triduum,” he went on to explain.

Turning Off to Tune In

Unplugging during Holy Week isn’t about being anti-technology; it’s about promoting intentionality. It is important to use this sacred time to reset not only our digital habits, but also our hearts and faith.

“Try it out. It is something that needs a lot of will power and focus, but very rewarding because you’ll be able to make connections with yourself, with others, and situations that you did not notice before,” Marga advised the Gen Zs.

“It will be something that can help you reset your priorities and goals in your life. Unplugging can also be a way to show Christ that we are willing to sacrifice things that may be difficult to us, to accompany Him in His great sacrifice to save us,” she added.

As Generation Z, we have the ability to rethink how faith fits into our fast-paced, online lives. This Holy Week, let us choose to slow down, unplug, and focus on the ultimate sacrifice offered for love. 

Let’s log out and look up. Let’s unplug and reconnect. Let’s unplug for the Passion—because sometimes the most powerful connection we can create is one that does not require Wi-Fi.