Manila churches suspend masses

MANILA, Philippines — Starting today, masses and other public gatherings in some Catholic churches in Metro Manila would be temporarily suspended, a day before the government enforces a community quarantine in Metro Manila to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, announced yesterday in a two-page pastoral letter that public celebration of masses in all churches in the Archdiocese of Manila will be suspended today until March 20. 

The Archdiocese of Manila covers the cities of Manila, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati and Pasay City; the Diocese of Antipolo covers the cities of Marikina and some parts of Pasig City along with the province of Taytay; and the Diocese of Cubao covers the southern part of Quezon City. 

Pabillo said that they are enjoined to avoid holding large gatherings of people to avoid the spread of COVID-19, which prompted them to suspend masses “not in panic, but with care for charity to others and the common good.”  

“I recognize that this may impact many faithful and priests, but let us do this with the spirit and sacrifice for the good of all. Within the week, we will monitor more fully the situation in coordination with health agencies and government bodies,” Pabillo said. 

The “Kumpisalang Bayan” or mass confessions for the Holy Week will also be suspended. 

Whether the suspension of masses will be extended or not, Pabillo said that they will issue further instructions on the matter as he urged the faithful to keep in touch with their website to be updated and avoid fake news. 

Pabillo said that the Archdiocese of Manila will peal the bells during noontime and at 8 p.m. starting today to call for people to pray the “Oratio Imperata” to fight the COVID-19. 

He said that the parishes and the places for prayers will remain open despite the suspension of masses, but emphasized that sanitizers will be provided at all entrance doors and the churches are regularly cleaned. 

Pabillo said that priests can maximize social media to spread the teachings of Jesus Christ and hold televised masses through Church-run TV Maria and Radio Veritas during the suspension of public masses. 

Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said that masses in all churches in the Diocese of Cubao will also be suspended beginning today until March 20 as he emphasized that “people will be dispensed from their Sunday obligations.” 

The Quiapo Church also announced yesterday that it will indefinitely suspend the “pahalik” or the kissing of the image of the Black Nazarene in a bid to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

The church encouraged the faithful to pray inside the church. 

The Diocese of Novaliches also suspended yesterday all of its public masses and other church activities. 

Novaliches Bishop Roberto Gaa said the public masses and church gatherings are suspended until April 12, or until the government lifts the community quarantine. 

In a short video message, Gaa said the decision to suspend the masses in the Diocese of Novaliches was a “communal discernment” of the priests due to the “extraordinary incident” brought by COVID-19. 

Aside from public masses, Gaa said that church activities such as retreats, recollections, pilgrimage and mass confessions or prayer meetings will also be suspended.

Gaa said that faithful of the Diocese of Novaliches can still hear mass through their official Facebook page and through TV Maria and Radio Veritas. 

In a statement, the Diocese of Pasig will also suspend masses in all parishes and chapels starting this afternoon until further notice. 

The dioceses of Caloocan and Parañaque in Metro Manila have yet to announce the suspension of masses and church activities as of yesterday afternoon. 

Metro Manila is composed of the dioceses of Manila, Cubao, Pasig, Caloocan, Parañaque and Novaliches. 

Malolos Bishop Dennis Villarojo said they will also suspended holding of public masses starting March 15 until March 22. 

Villarojo said the Malolos faithful can still attend masses through televised celebrations as he urged them to strengthen their faith and prayers amid the COVID-19 scare. 

He also urged them to pray the “Oratio Imperata” against the coronavirus. 

Former Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has called on the Filipino faithful to stay calm and convert their fears into strength for them to come up with solutions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In a short video message from Rome, Tagle said the COVID-19 pandemic will only sow fear and panic if the people will not calm down and think of better solutions to address the global health crisis. 

Tagle is in the Vatican after Pope Francis appointed him as the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in December last year. He left the Archdiocese of Manila last month. 

While he encouraged everyone to remain calm, Tagle said the people should also pay attention to all the safety measures issued by their local health authorities or through the Department of Heath (DOH). 

He said the people should not ignore even the simplest health routine such the proper hand washing, wearing of face masks and observing coughing etiquette, as it is will save them from getting infected with COVID-19. 

Tagle has also called on the public to avoid panic buying and hoarding of food supplies as it only deprives the less fortunate who find it difficult to find their own food in this time of crisis. 

The government is urging the public to postpone weddings and other gatherings to avoid the spread of the new coronavirus following the declaration of state of public health emergency in the country.

Secretary to the Cabinet Karlo Alexei Nograles expressed belief that weddings could be postponed to a later date while the government imposes a ban on mass gatherings.

At a wedding, Nograles believes that it would be hard to implement social distancing – particularly for the couple. “In a wedding, how will the couple kiss each other? There will be adjustments that need to be done,” he said.

Nograles said officials have started to work on guidelines on general mass gathering but not yet weddings and other rites. There are continuous discussions with doctors and epidemiologists to address health concerns.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said it would be proper for couples to rethink their wedding plans to also comply with the government order for the public to observe social distancing.   

If it can’t be postponed, Lopez recommended that the couples limit their guests. With Christina Mendez