HEARING MASS A small group gathers outside the Obando church compound to hear Mass for the annual fertility ritual in this Bulacan town. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
OBANDO, Bulacan, Philippines — Devotees of this town’s patron saints of fertility and good harvest have been attending Masses through a giant screen outside the closed gates of the Obando parish church because of restrictions imposed to contain the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Heeding the rules of the province’s modified enhanced community quarantine, people stayed a meter apart outside the church during Masses held on Sunday and Monday for Obando’s two of three saints: San Pascual Baylon and Santa Clara de Assisi. The last Mass for the third saint, Our Lady of Salambáo, was held on Tuesday.
Since social gatherings are prohibited during the quarantine, the Masses have been restricted only to leaders of the parish pastoral councils, according to Fr. Patrick Gumasing, assistant parish priest.
Instead, a system of live broadcasting of religious services has been set up in front of the closed church, where the three images of the saints are on display.
The most familiar saint is Sta. Clara de Assisi, whose feast day was celebrated on May 18.
Fertility dance
During the Monday services, churchgoers outside the gate swayed in unison when the popular fertility song, “Sta. Clara Pinong-Pino,” was played before and after the Mass.
Her feast was characterized by a fertility dance performed inside the church or on streets by married couples who have no children.
The feast day of San Pascual Baylon was celebrated on May 17.
“San Pascual Baylon had displayed pure devotion to God even as a youth and when he was far from the community to tend to his sheep. When he hears bells ring out, the saint considers them a sign that he needs to worship God. That is what we do now in the time of COVID-19. Even when churches are closed, we worship,” said Malolos Bishop Dennis Villarojo on a Facebook post.
The feast day of Our Lady of Salambáo is on May 19. It celebrates an image of the Virgin Mary that was discovered by fishermen in 1763 and was enshrined at the Obando Church.
Social media
Many devotees use social media to pray to the saints for protection against COVID-19.
“I pray for the protection of the world. I pray for the pandemic’s end and for life to become normal [again],” said Adelaida Tayson Sevilla.
Gumasing said the Obando church would continue holding regular Masses but would not open these services to the public until the quarantine was lifted.
Soldiers, policemen and village watchmen monitored the Masses, making sure everyone outside the gates followed rules on the use of face masks and on social distancing.