CBCP calls for simultaneous ringing of bells in parish churches on April 8

MANILA, Philippines — The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Tuesday called for the simultaneous ringing of the bells in all parish churches on April 8.

In a circular order released by CBCP president and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, the simultaneous ringing will start at 3 p.m. on April 8, Holy Wednesday, to “signal the start of a televised Inter-faith prayer.”

Valles said that the approval and endorsement of the simultaneous ringing of bells were in response to the request of the national government, led by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

“It will be comforting and encouraging for our people when they sense and observe that a spirit of unity and working together is there in these trying times,” Valles said in the circular order.

In a letter sent by Military Ordinate Bishop Oscar Florencio to Valles dated April 6, the IATF will conduct the televised inter-faith prayer dubbed as “Buklurang  Panalangin ng Pagkakaisa Para Sugpuin ang COVID-19.”

This comes as the country battles the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), where the Philippines has 3,746 confirmed cases, of which 84 recovered and 177 succumbed to the disease.