ILOILO City – The Archdiocese of Jaro may have suspended Holy Week activities that usually attract huge crowds but it has certainly not stopped observing Lent in this period of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
This noon, April 10, until 3 p.m. it is pushing through with the traditional Siete Palabras, reflections on the crucified Jesus Christ’s last words.
The archdiocese, through its Commission on Social Communications, would be broadcasting live from the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral the Sieta Palabras through its Facebook page. It would also be aired live by radio stations.
After the Siete Palabras, the archdiocese will live stream Good Friday services from the cathedral.
Yesterday, April 9, while the archdiocese cancelled the traditional Holy Thursday Visita iglesia, Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo celebrated the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper live on Facebook at the cathedral.
“Matuod madadamo ang kulang sa aton selebrasyon karon, pero ang aton pagtuo buhi sa gihapon. Ang Ginoo padayon nga nagapahayag sang Iya paghigugma sa tunga sang krisis nga aton ginaagihan,” said Lazo.
In his homily, he acknowledged the sacrifices of frontliners battling COVID-19.
“Ang kasuguan sa paghigugma para sa tanan. Makita naton ini sa aton mga frontliners, second liners sa subong nga panahon – sa tunga sang krisis, kita makaalagad nga may paghigugma kag may pagpaubos sa pagbulig sa aton isigkatawo,” said Lazo.
The COVID-19 pandemic “presents an evolving scenario, one that is not static or easily predictable,” Lazo stressed in an earlier message to the faithful of the archdiocese. But he assuring the Ilonggos that “God will never abandon us.”
The Archdiocese of Jaro covers the provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras which are currently on an enhanced community quarantine to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Available data (2015) showed the Archdiocese of Jaro’s jurisdiction having a Catholic population of 2,641,965.
“As a people of God, our primary and basic response to this pandemic is no other than prayer,” according to Lazo.
He encouraged people to “participate in the Eucharistic celebration” through social media, the internet, television and radio.
Laso previously issued what he termed as “personal guidelines” to further keep people safe. These were the following:
* Always clean and disinfect surroundings.
* Observe proper hygiene, coughing and sneezing etiquette.
* Eat healthy.
* Observe social distancing.
* Refrain contact with individuals displaying symptoms of the illness.
* Stay at home and seek medical attention when exhibiting symptoms such as fever, cough, difficulty of breathing and diarrhea./PN
