ILOILO City – Churches under the Archdiocese of Jaro are allowed to schedule more predawn Masses or Simbang Gabi beginning Wednesday, Dec. 16.
Parishes are also encouraged to hold Masses in venues large enough to accommodate more people such as basketball courts or gymnasiums.
This is line with the public health protocols being enforced to stem the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to Reverend Father Angelo Colada, director of social communications of the Archdiocese of Jaro.
“We issued guidelines sa mga priests and parishes to add more Masses and utilize wide spaces nga yara sa kabarangayan,” said Colada.
While tradition has kept these Masses from Dec. 16 to 24 to be held as early as 4 a.m., this year’s predawnmasses may start as early as 6 p.m. from the night before (anticipated mass), while the last Mass would be at 6 a.m.
For devotees who are not yet allowed to leave their homes, Collada said online masses are still a viable option.
“Bukas ang mga simbahan sa gusto nga magkadto pero ang mga comorbidities, senior citizens and kabataan padayun lang nga gina-encourage nga mag-stay sa puloy-an and magtambong sang Mass online,” Colada said.
On Christmas Eve, the Vigil Mass of Christmas may be celebrated from 6 p.m. and the last Mass of Dec. 24 will take the liturgy of the Midnight Mass of Christmas.
Colada added that the dawn Mass of Christmas may also be celebrated early morning of Dec. 25.
At the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, Collda said the city government allowed 50 percent of the church’s normal congregation capacity.
Marks were also placed on the cathedrals’ pews and floors to guide the faithful where to sit and stand, thereby ensuring proper physical distancing.
Collada reminded the faithful not to lose sight of the basic components of the celebration – the Word of God and Holy Communion.
To recall, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. issued Executive Order No. 183-E allowing religious congregations subject to additional and adjusted community quarantine measures.
These rules were the following:
* attendees shall only be at 30 percent of the venue or seating capacity
* persons shall be sealed two meters apart
* seats and queue lines shall be marked accordingly for social distancing purposes
Defensor also required parishes to appoint fulltime safety and health protocol officers to ensure compliance to the rules inside the church./PN
