Bishop Pabillo advises churches to save money amid coronavirus fears

MANILA, Philippines — Bishop Broderick Pabillo, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, on Monday urged parishes to save money in preparation for the possible economic effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country.

“Let the parishes be prepared for the economic effects of the COVID 19 phenomenon. Worst case scenario would be the suspension of public gatherings. We need to save at this time of impending crisis,” he said in a pastoral letter.

Pabillo said that at this time, expenses of parishes should only be on “what is essential in order to save for any eventualities.” He also called on refraining from purchasing capital expenditures and to make church programs frugal.

The savings of parishes should be put in the Disaster Resiliency Fund, added Pabillo.

“In this way, in case we have no collections, we may sustain the salaries of our employees maintain our religious institutions,” he explained. “Let us make our church institutions resilient.”

Aside from this advice, Pabillo also said the suspension of the practice of dipping hands in Holy Water will continue, and that bottles of 70 percent ethyl alcohol should be placed at the entrance doors of parishes.

He said Catholic faithful may stay home when they are sick with flu-like symptoms. Instead of going to Masses, he said they can opt to pray in their homes, read the Bible, and watch or listen to TV or radio Masses. Priests and lay ministers who have the same symptoms should also refrain from serving in parishes for the meantime.

“This is an act of charity that we can offer to the people,” he said.

Holding of hands when uttering The Lord’s Prayer is still discouraged, as well as kissing or holding statues and sacred images and glass frames that cover them.

Parishioners whose health is weak or who have non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cancer are urged to wear face masks during the Holy Mass, while church employees who handle money collections must also wear masks and use alcohol and gloves, according to the church official.