Many Catholic faithful are now expressing their thirst and hunger to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. In the face of the crisis that threatens life, it is but proper and just to turn even more to the Giver of Life – Jesus. But this recent pandemic made us reconsider things. Discerning the situation brought to us by COVID-19 made us decide that suspension of public Masses, while a difficult decision, was necessary in order to protect the health and life of our faithful. We needed also to comply to the restrictions implemented by the government especially because we see them as imperative to avoid or at least delay the transmission of the virus in our communities.
While waiting for the IATF’s permission to have religious mass gatherings, we have conducted meetings with the Board of Consultors, and consultation with representatives of the laity in the diocese. Earlier we have communicated some liturgical instructions like guidelines for funeral Masses, weddings, and baptisms.
Considering the recommendations for liturgical celebrations from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and the government’s protocol, we are offering some more guidelines in view of the gradual re-opening of our churches and resumption of the sacramental celebrations with the people in attendance, especially the Holy Eucharist.
1. LIVESTREAMED and TELEVISED MASSES.
During the Enhanced Community Quarantine that made us suspend all public Masses, many parishes have tried their best to accompany their parishioners by offering online Masses. We maximized the potentials of social media. Even now that we are permitted to have Masses with limited attendance, let us continue to make use of social media to cover and livestream our Masses. Under GCG, those who are under 21 and above 60 of age are still prohibited to go out unless for some reasons considered by IATF as exemptions. Also due to the observance of physical distancing, many faithful would not be realistically accommodated. Thus, we make Online Masses still available for them.
2. ADDITIONAL MASS SCHEDULES.
To accommodate more Mass-goers while strictly observing physical distancing, parishes are highly encouraged to offer additional Mass schedules. We can also shorten the Masses without rushing by limiting the length of homily, shortening and even skipping some mass songs. We can do this to accommodate additional mass schedule and shorten the exposure of the faithful from other Mass-goers.
3. BARANGAY MASSES.
To avoid crowding in parish churches and better serve the faithful, parishes may offer additional masses in the barangays. They may opt to hold the Mass in covered courts, instead of having them in the small chapels, to maintain physical distancing. Proper coordination with the barangay councils is required.
4. ANTICIPATED MASSES.
The anticipated or vigil Masses shall be reckoned beginning any time after 12 noon on Saturday. A faithful who attends any Mass after midday of Saturday shall be in fulfillment of the Sunday obligation.
5. PREPARING THE CHURCH ENVIRONMENT
5.1. SANITATION OF CHURCHES.
Appropriate cleaning and disinfecting of high-use areas within the church should be done before and after each service.
· Restroom facilities and door handles/knobs are also to be regularly sanitized. Anti-bacterial soap is to be provided. Instructions on proper hand washing may be posted in the restrooms.
· Holy Water Fonts are to remain empty until further notice.
· Hand sanitizer is to be made available at all entrances and exits as well as near the ambo and the altar (for priests, lay ministers, and LeCom).
· Foot Baths are also to be made available at the church doors.
· Thermal Scanner is to be used to check the temperature of the faithful entering the church.
· The parish should conduct daily disinfection.
5.2. MARKINGS AND SEATING ARRANGEMENT.
There should be markings on the pews to remind Mass-goers to maintain distancing by sitting on designated seats.
5.3. ENTRANCES AND EXITS.
There should be designated church doors for entrance and exits. It will facilitate the flow of people entering and exiting the church. It is also suggested that after the Mass, the faithful occupying the last pews may exit first to be followed by those in the next rows and so forth to avoid crowding.
6. GUIDELINES FOR MASS
· Parishioners, parish staff, and servers must wear face mask while in the church. Lectors must wear mask at all times except of course when reading the Word of God. Unnecessary conversations must be avoided. Physical distancing must be also observed in the sanctuary.
· Reduce the choir members. It is even advisable to only have a cantor to lead the assembly in the singing
· The priest need not to wear mask while celebrating Mass but may do so if he feels compromised. He must wear mask when distributing communion. When needed, he may allow a lay minister to help him in giving communion, but they need not to say “Body of Christ”. The priest will say “Body of Christ” only once while he is still at the altar and just before going down to the aisle to give communion.
· Priests and lay ministers should wash and sanitize their hands properly before and after each celebration.
· Holy Communion should be distributed only on the hand. A tape can be placed on the floor to mark the spots where the faithful may stand during communion. The faithful are also led to line by pews.
· The parish should observe the allowed number of people set by the IATF.
7. PERSONAL PRAYER.
Since many faithful come to church not only for Mass but also for personal prayer, they should be reminded to observe physical distancing guidelines, and avoid touching sacred images or statues. Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapels should not be in use at this time. Instead, the faithful are encouraged to pray inside the parish church.
8. TRAINING YOUNGER EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION and LECTORS AND COMMENTATORS.
Many members of the EMHC and LECOM are elderly and therefore more vulnerable to the virus. We must help them avoid exposure to the virus. Let us seek the services of younger ministers and member of LECOM.
9. USHERS AND COLLECTORS.
They need to undergo orientation-training to equip them on how to fulfill their tasks considering the protocols. Ushers are necessary in guiding Mass-goers where to sit, in lining up for the communion and ushering them in exiting after the Mass. Collectors must use the “tigpaw” (with handle) and not collection baskets. They need also to sanitize the tigpaw before and after the mass.
10. CREATING PARISH HEALTH MINISTRY.
We should start identifying and training volunteers for our Parish Health Ministry. As members of this ministry, they will take care of the sanitization of the pews, doorknobs of the church doors etc. They will also take the temperature of the faithful entering the church by using a thermal scanner. Mass-goers with fever or sick will be refused entry to the church. They will also ensure that people in the church are wearing face mask, and that a disinfection foot bath and hand sanitizers are available.
11. DISPENSATION FROM THE OBLIGATION TO ATTEND SUNDAY MASS.
The Bishop of Legazpi has extended his dispensation of the faithful from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass, since many faithful might still not be accommodated even with the additional Mass schedules. This is also in consideration of government protocols that mandate the elderly, the young, children, and the sick to stay at home. They may avail of the online and televised Masses.
12. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION.
Given the Catholic Church’s norms for Confession, the priest must be physically present to the penitent and must be able to hear the penitent without the aid of electronic devices, both must wear masks and maintain a distance that will ensure confidentiality of the conversation but at the same time protect them from possible contact with droplets of saliva from each other. In addition the priest must wear a face shield. It is highly recommended also to have the confession in an open and ventilated area and not inside the confessional box.
13. ANOINTING OF THE SICK AND THE DYING.
Priests have the sacred calling to attend to the sick and the dying. During this Coronavirus pandemic, this must be done in an especially thoughtful, safe and prayerful manner. The priest should anoint using a cotton ball per patient, which should be disposed by burning afterwards. Only the forehead may be anointed, and not anymore the hands
14. COMMUNION FOR THE SICK.
In order to limit the possibility of viral transmission to more vulnerable faithful, there will be no distribution of communion for the sick and the homebound for now. Priests are asked to find other ways of comforting and praying with the homebound, such as praying together by phone, and praying the “Act of Spiritual Communion” during online or televised Masses.
15. MEMBERS OF THE NEO-CATECHUMENAL WAY.
Because we are increasing the number of masses, especially the anticipated masses on Saturdays, in order to accommodate more people, the celebration of the Saturday Eucharist among members of the Neo-Catechemenal communities in the diocese is hereby suspended until further notice. We enjoin the neo-catechumenate members to join in any of the masses in the parish for the meantime. Needless to say, communion in the double species is definitely cancelled in order to prevent any potential transmission of the virus through the breaking of the one loaf and the drinking from the one cup.
16. BAPTISM, WEDDING AND FUNERAL MASS.
We continue to accommodate weddings, baptisms, and funerals, provided that we observe only the allowed number of participants.
· For baptisms, only the parents and a pair of godparents is allowed to participate. Baptisms may be scheduled on weekdays so as not to crowd the regular Saturday schedule. Priests should use a cotton ball to anoint with chrism per newly-baptized, which should be disposed by burning afterwards.
· For funerals, the usual Christian symbols (cloth, crucifix, bible, and flowers) will no longer be placed on top of the coffin. Only the presider will sprinkle holy water on the coffin, which should remain closed throughout the celebration. No wake Masses are allowed at this time.
+JOEL Z. BAYLON
Bishop of Legazpi
May 19, 2020
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