MANILA – Filipino Catholics will have a different observance of the Holy Week this year with the absence of the traditional religious activities due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) spokesperson Fr. Jerome Secillano said the Catholics are urged to stay home during Holy Week and follow liturgical activities on television, radio or online.
“The message can actually be communicated to the people by means of technology that we have nowadays,” Secillano said in an interview on CNN Philippines. “Priests will continue to celebrate the mass within the confines of the Church.”
“Spiritual graces coming from the sacraments that are celebrated by the Church can be imparted to them [through technology],” he added. “We don’t want to compromise the security and health of the people.”
Secillano also said that the CBCP advised the public to check their official Facebook page regularly for the schedule of activities, which will be posted online.
In a video message, Pope Francis acknowledged that Christians will celebrate Holy Week ‘in a truly unusual way’ this year but added that this week sums up the message of the Gospel – God’s boundless love.
“And in the silence of our cities, the Easter Gospel will resound,” Pope Francis said in a video message. “In the risen Jesus, life conquered death. This Paschal faith nourishes our hope. I would like to share it with you this evening.”
“It is the hope of a better time, in which we can be better, finally freed from evil and from this pandemic. It is a hope: hope does not disappoint; it is not an illusion, it is a hope,” he added.
Pope Francis has also urged the faithful to prepare for a better time ‘in love and patience’ given that many are quarantined in their homes during this time.
“Make a gesture of tenderness towards those who suffer, towards children, and towards the elderly,” Pope Francis said./PN
