- MITCH M. LIPA
Churches under the Diocese of Bacolod will allow only limited number of parishioners in various activities during the Holy Week.
Fr. Felix Pasquin, priest of Our Lady of Candles Parish, said that last year, almost all activities were cancelled because Bacolod City and Negros Occidental was placed under enhanced community quarantine, but since both are now under modified general community quarantine, guidelines were issued for the activities during the Holy Week this year.
Regular masses will be held from Holy Monday to Holy Wednesday while the Annual Renewal of Vows for priesthood and the Chrism mass will be held on Holy Wednesday, instead of Holy Thursday.
On Wednesday, most churches will celebrate a special mass to commemorate the first mass of Christianity in the Philippines 500 years ago.
Churches will hold the “washing of the feet” on Thursday, but those who will act as the apostles will observe physical distancing, and the number of church attendees will be also be limited as mandated under the MGCQ.
After each mass, the sacrament will still be placed in an altar, but this time the altar decoration will be simple unlike the previous glamorous design.
The usual Visita Iglesia every Thursday evening is still allowed but only limited number of persons can enter the prayer area.
Organized or groupings of families in visiting seven churches during the Visita Iglesia is highly discouraged.
“To avoid crowd gathering, the annual road station of the cross on Good Friday will be held only inside the church compound,” based on the guidelines.
Participants need not to move to every station, but should stay standing where they are while a leader will be the one who will move to every station.
A limited number of churchgoers is allowed to listen inside the church for the Seven Last Words.
Church leaders are encouraging the faithful to stay home and listen to or watch the Seven Last Words on television.
For the Friday procession, the usual parade of images that depict the sufferings of Jesus Christ will still be held in major streets.
However, only the owner will be allowed to follow their statue cart while other participants are advised to stay on the side of the road with physical distancing, or those inside the house can open their windows to see the procession of the images.
After the procession, the Santo Entierro or the statue of Dead Christ can still be displayed inside the church but no kissing or touching of the statue will be allowed.
Pasquin said that in his parish, they will allow the visit only until 9 p.m. because of the curfew.
In some churches, an Easter vigil on Saturday evening or early morning of Easter Sunday will be allowed with limited participants.
Pasquin said the Catholic faithful are highly encouraged to participate in actual or online Easter Sunday masses since this is also the period were all faithful will renew their faith and will be baptized again.
On Easter Sunday morning, Bishop Patricio Buzon will lead the opening of the Jubilee Door at the San Sebastian Cathedral. – MML
