The 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) has already taken too much. People from all around the globe are left panicking and frantic about how they’ll be able to go on with their regular days.
And with the enhanced community quarantine being in effect, people are not allowed to travel long distances; say going from one municipality to another. In addition to that, large public gatherings are also prohibited. Gatherings like parties, masses, and even social groups are banned for the time being.
That being said, the Catholic Church, for the first time, will go online to commemorate and observe the usual Holy Week activities. You read that right, the Catholic Church will go online for Holy Week. So, people who have been accustomed to attending festivities and masses can expect it to be online.
Masses to be pushed through
A majority of people thought that the masses would come to a stop because of the enhanced community quarantine imposed by our government. It has come to a stop, however, it will still be continuing, just online.
Broderick Pabillo, Manila Auxiliary Bishop said that the Catholic Church will go online to push masses for the celebration of the Holy Week. He said that should the situation not get better, masses will all be held online.
We will go online for as long as the situation will not get any better. All of our activities that are usually held in public for the Holy Week will also be online.”
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That being said, if the COVID-19 outbreak pushes through, we don’t have to proceed to chapels and churches; we can observe the masses and the activities online!
Pabillo has been appointed as the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila by Pope Francis. This was after Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, the previous Archbishop, has been appointed and designated as the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of People in the Vatican.
So the responsibility of whatever occurrences in the country in terms of the Catholic Church will be to Pabillo.
Emphasis on going outside and pushing public activities
Even the Church is telling people to stay indoors; Pabillo has put a stress on the public that they should follow the protocols and the rules set by the Philippine government in terms of containing and managing the infamous COVID-19.
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According to him, the activities of the Church will neither be stopped or postponed; the Catholic Church will go online for the people to be able to share the moments. In addition, he announced that the Catholic Church will be opened for the people who wish to find Solace in Churches and in Prayers.
Prayers and devotion
Furthermore, Pabillo said that the public can definitely stay indoors. In terms of those devotees, they can take their time to read the Bible and recite the Oratio Imperata against the Coronavirus.
The Lenten Season this 2020 started on the 26th of February 2020 and it will end on the 11th of April, 2020. Pabillo said that for the Holy Week, the Catholic Church will go online but they would still call for prayers during all the Fridays of the Lent; which starts today; the 27th of March 2020; the 3rd of April 220; and on the 10th of April 2020 or Good Friday.
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He said that Pope Francis is calling for prayers against the sudden outburst of the COVID-19 cases in the whole world.
Pope Francis is calling for prayers against COVID-19. At the same time, we are also calling for prayers and for us Catholics, reading the Bible and reciting the rosary are the best form of prayers.”
Pabillo is urging the public to help the less fortunate in the event that you are fine in life. More so, he is inviting people to fast and pray during the Holy Week.
Let us try to fast and pray during that day.”
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For the first time ever, the Catholic Church will go online, given that the situation in our country does not alleviate. The COVID-19 really is a phenomenon that has curbed lifestyles, careers, and even the lives of some people; it has even modified the way of life of religions.
With the Catholic Church going online, we’d still be able to attend and observe mass in the comfort of our own homes. What do you think about the longevity of the virus? Would it affect and change the Holy Week as we know it? Or would it end any time soon with the efforts of health organization from all over the globe?
Source: The Philippine Star
