Health protocols in place once Holy Masses in church resume, says Manila bishop

MANILA, Philippines – More Holy Masses will be scheduled to adhere to health protocols once the government allows the resumption of religious activities in areas under the general community quarantine (GCQ) amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Archdiocese of Manila said on Monday.

Manila Archdiocese Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo reiterated the appeal of the Catholic Church to allow religious gatherings in areas under GCQ, saying these are needed for the psychological and spiritual resilience of the Catholic faithful.

“[Magiging] kalahati ang capacity ng simbahan pero dadagdagan ang mga misa at magkakaroon ng mga misa during the week. Tuluy-tuloy ang online [mass] kaya ‘yung mga matatanda, [‘yung mga] natatakot [lumabas], pwede silang mag-online, ‘yung kaya na, pwede na silang magsimba,” he said in an interview on dzMM.

(The capacity of the church to house people will be reduced to half but there will be more Masses during the week. Online Masses will sill be conducted. The elderly or those still wary of stepping out of their residences can hear Mass online, while those who are willing and able may go to church.)

He rued that other businesses will be allowed to reopen under GCQ while the holding of religious activities is still suspended.

“Ang nakakalungkot, ayon sa kanilang (Interagency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases) guidelines, mabubuksan na ang restaurants, salon, pero ang simbahan ay hindi pa binubuksan. Itinuturing lang ang simbahan na kasama sa sinehan, sa mga concerts. Hindi ganyan ang serbisyo ng simbahan,” he said.

(What is saddening is under IATF guidelines, restaurants and salons can reopen but the church can’t. The placed the church in the same category as cinemas and concerns. The services of the church are not like that.)

According to Pabillo, those who will physically attend the Holy Mass will be required to wear face masks. Hand sanitizers will also be made available inside church halls.

During communion, physical distancing will also be observed in the queue, said the church official.

He added that attendees will also be limited during other church ceremonies like weddings and baptismal rites.

“Kasama din ‘yan sa aming guidelines, na ‘yung ikakasal, ang nandoon lang, isang ninong at isang ninang. Wala nang mga abay-abay, simpleng kasal lang (During weddings, only two principal sponsors will be allowed. There will be no secondary sponsors. It will be a simple wedding),” he said.

For funerals, only the immediate family members will be allowed during funeral masses in the church, he added.

Air-conditioners in churches, Pabillo added, can also be turned off for proper air ventilation.

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