COVID-19 brought the Catholic church to social media, more frugal lives
MANILA – The current COVID-19 pandemic provided alternatives for the Catholic church in the Philippines to fulfill its role in attending to the faithful’s spiritual needs against a backdrop of financial difficulties.
As the Catholic church prepares to celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines, CBCP President and Davao Archbishop Romulo G. Valles said creativity is expected from bishops and priests as the government has limited church attendance from 30 to 50% of original capacity.
Unlike during the early days of the pandemic when no liturgical celebrations were allowed, the prelate said most have shifted to the social media, livestreaming liturgical celebrations and producing webinars for the Catholic faithful.
Archbishop Valles said he hopes the government will no longer bar people from liturgical events in the near future because the CBCP has carefully planned out year-long events and activities milestone in the Catholic church.
He said activities will also have webinars on Church history among others.
“Financial difficulty was felt by dioceses and parishes as mentioned in reports received by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines,” said Archbishop Valles in an early morning press briefing Thursday.
However, he added they are deeply inspired by people, despite in difficult conditions, they made us feel of their being supportive of the Church.
“They did not forget the Church,” he added. At the same time, COVID-19 pushed the clergy and the religious to rethink of their lifestyle, and they now have simpler lifestyle and simply think of the essentials.
CBCP Vice President and Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio S. David described the current conditions as “challenging for the Church.” There remains an outpouring of generosity from the people especially concerned with work for the poorest of the poor, feeding programs and disaster relief.
It was more challenging for the administrative side due to the absence of physical celebrations which led to a significant drop in collections.
“The faithful resorted to digital transactions including the use of GCash and QR codes. This is part of the challenge (brought about by COVID-19) but we are coping,” Bishop David concluded. (Melo M. Acuña)