Archdiocese of Manila to open churches despite government ban
MANILA – The Apostolic Administrator of the Manila, Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo said while the Catholic church will not have any religious activity outside of the churches including the traditional passion plays, pabasa, religious processions, motorcades and the visita iglesia, they will have religious worship within 10% of the maximum capacity of churches beginning tomorrow.
In his Pastoral Instruction entitled “We Worship the Lord,” dated March 23, the bishop said worshippers need to follow health protocols which has been long adhered to by the Catholic church.
He said on Holy Wednesday, the Catholic church in Manila will proceed with the Consecration of the Holy Chrism and Blessing of the Oil and the Sick at the Manila Cathedral during the 7:30 A.M. Mass as the renewal of priestly promises will be made at a later date as the simple Chrism Mass will be attended by a few priests and a few faithful. He encouraged the general public to participate through online facilities. He described the event as a significant celebration.
Bishop Pabillo invited everyone to join through the social media platforms of the Diocese of Maasin for the celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the first Mass in Limasawa at 10:00 A.M.
“We will join via online with the whole country for this celebration on March 31, the very day of the first Mass in 1521,” he said.
On Holy Thursday, he invited the faithful to join the online Archdiocesan Way of the Cross at 8:00 A.M. which is covered by Catholic-run TV Maria, Radio Veritas and the online platforms of the different parish social communications.
As the Catholic Church celebrates the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, Bishop Pabillo said every parish should distribute material help to people in need of food and may utilize whatever amount collected for the Alay Kapwa program at the beginning of Lent.
“At the end of the Last Supper Mass on Holy Thursday, there will be prayers before the reposed Blessed Sacrament in each parish for about an hour which will be covered online. Let each watch and pray with Jesus from their homes for an hour in silent adoration and worship,” he added in his circular,
He added parishes can organize their own only Way of the Cross and reflections on the Seven Last Words as he called on everyone to exercise sobriety in prayer and fasting, medication on the love of God.
The collection during the Veneration of the cross in the afternoon of Good Friday will be for the Christians in the Middle East who are suffering not only from the pandemic but from protracted wars.
For Holy Saturday, Bishop Pabillo called on the faithful to tune in to TV Maria and Radio Veritas for the Easter Vigil Mass, which will be done in all parishes.
“On Easter Sunday, we will join the whole country in opening the 500 years of the coming of Christianity. We will start with the opening of the Holy Door at the Manila Cathedral at 10:00 A.M.,” he said. He added the faithful can join online. The opening of the Holy Doors of other jubilee churches will be held later.
There are 86 parishes and nearly 200 priests in the Archdiocese of Manila. (Melo M. Acuña)
Apostolic Administrator of Manila Bp. Broderick S. Pabillo. (File Photo/Melo M. Acuna)
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