TACLOBAN CITY—Bishop Crispin Varquez has urged people in Eastern Samar to turn to prayer as they continue to battle COVID-19.
The prelate declared July 20 as a day of prayer and fasting (“adlaw hin pag-ampo ngan pagpuasa”), enjoining the priests and faithful in the diocese “to beg God to save us from this critical and grim situation.”
“Let us ask God for deliverance from this pandemic,” Vasquez said in his letter issued Wednesday (July 14).
“We trust God will surely hear the cries and supplications of His people, through the intercession of Our Lady, the patroness of the diocese,” he added.
On July 20, there will be simultaneous celebrations of the Holy Hour and Holy Mass as well as fasting from food as an expression of solidarity for those who have lost their loved ones and those who continue to suffer due to COVID-19.
“May this day of prayer and fasting shed light to all those who are in the dark, and may it spark hope in those who are afraid,” he added.
Eastern Samar currently has 2,784 COVID-19 cases with 67 deaths.
At least 77,500 doses of AstraZeneca arrived in the region on Wednesday.
As of July 10, 243,617 individuals have received their first dose of the vaccine across the region. At least 92,370 of them have been completely inoculated.