Manila (UCAN): Parishes in the Philippine capital, Manila, were forced to cancel Holy Week celebrations after a spike in Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infections prompted health authorities to prohibit religious gatherings.
“All mass gatherings including religious gatherings shall be prohibited while the holding of weddings, baptisms, and funeral services shall be limited,” a government directive issued on March 20 said.
As a result, churches will be in lockdown from March 22 to April 4, Church officials said. The directive means Holy Week celebrations that culminate on April 4 will have to be cancelled.
The Diocese of Novaliches in Quezon City, was the first to announce the cancellation of Masses in a letter from Bishop Roberto Gaa who wrote, “There is a strong need, even major imperative for our parish churches to go into lockdown. This is for us to help arrest the worsening Covid-19 pandemic.”
In recent days, the Philippines recorded the highest Covid infection rates since the pandemic began in 2020.
“On March 20, 7,990 new cases, the highest so far were recorded, while 7,757 new cases were recorded on March 21,” according to the Health Department.
I am encouraging you to pray to the best of your ability for the resolution of this crisis. Let us always remember that where two or three are gathered in his name, Christ is there in their midst.
Bishop Jesse Mercado of Paranaque
The diocese said it needed to implement measures to curb the continuous infection among churchgoers.
“I believe that if nothing drastic is done and things are left as they are now, the worsening situation could spread to other places both within and beyond our diocese,” Bishop Gaa said.
The Diocese of Cubao in Quezon City, also issued a similar announcement cancelling public Masses and other liturgical celebrations.
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“Cubao Diocese has decided to declare a lockdown of its parish churches for the period of March 22 to April, 2021. This is to encourage the faithful to stay home and keep them safe,” Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said in a letter on March 21. He said it was necessary in order to keep churchgoers safe.
“Closing our places of worship at the highest point of our liturgical year is heartbreaking. But we must also open our eyes to a situation that puts the faithful at risk,” Bishop Ongtioco added.
“Numbers are surging and scientific data shows that unless drastic interventions are done, these numbers will not decline anytime soon,” Bishop Ongtioco added.
The Archdiocese of Manila and the Diocese of Kalookan announced they would livestream Masses including during Holy Week.
Bishop Jesse Mercado of Paranaque urged his flock to engage in “prayerful lockdown.”
Bishop Mercado said on March 21, “I am encouraging you to pray to the best of your ability for the resolution of this crisis. Let us always remember that where two or three are gathered in his name, Christ is there in their midst.”
This is the second-time Filipinos will spend the Holy Week in their homes due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.
The Philippine government reported 80,642 active cases as of March 20, as well as 562,484 people recovered our of a cumulative total of 656,056 (https://www.covid19.gov.ph).
