Camp Crame Sunday masses go ‘e’

PHOTO BY JULLIANE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Policemen at the Camp Crame national headquarters in Quezon City can hear Sunday masses – electronically.

The “e-Blue Mass” is uploaded on the official website of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Chaplain Service via the streaming website Ustream from the St. Joseph Church in Camp Crame.

“Policemen are working even on Sundays. Of course, exigency of the service. They are detailed in their offices. And in their offices, they have Internet connections,” said Superintendent Lucio Rosaroso Jr. of the Chaplain Service’s chief directorial staff and the brains behind the concept.

In an interview, Rosaroso said the e-Blue Mass would allow policemen to hear the word of God while on duty, sick or wounded and in the hospital.

Rosaroso, one of the celebrants in the Camp Crame masses, said that since the Chaplain Service offered the e-Blue Mass, they have been getting “positive feedbacks”.

“While some attend the mass here to be seen in the video, most people were thankful because they could catch up on the masses they missed,” he said.

He said policemen and their families usually looked forward to the homily of the priests‎ as this helped them in their reflection.

“Kahit ‘yung mga police na naka-attend na dito, papakinggan pa nila ‘yung homily ulit sa video,” Rosaroso added.

The livestreaming of the mass in Camp Crame‎ began in March. Rosaroso said they were proposing to the PNP leadership that the e-Blue Mass be made into one of the organization’s best practices.

“This is also a plus point on our performance score card‎. The PNP leaders are happy with this innovation,” he said.

‎Every March 19 of the year, a General Blue Mass is held in celebration of St. Joseph’s Day. Rosaroso said the mass was attended by all PNP personnel, from the non-uniformed personnel up to the highest police official.