POPULARLY known as Quiapo Day, the leadership of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church) in Manila is looking to hold more masses on Fridays to accommodate more devotees.
Quiapo Church Parochial Vicar Fr. Douglas Badong yesterday said they are currently assessing whether there is a need to increase the number of Friday masses from the current number of five, considering the limited capacity allowed for liturgical services.
“We will have to see first on July 10 if we need to add masses. It will depend on the number of people attending the mass. The crowd is different during Fridays, so we must be prepared how to accommodate them,” said Badong in an interview.
So far, Badong said they will be sticking to their daily schedule of 5 a.m., 6 a.m., 12:15 noon, 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. masses.
“There is no discussion yet if masses should be increased or changed,” said the priest.
The Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) last week said churches in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) may now accommodate 10 percent capacity in their establishments starting July 10.
This is higher than the previous limit set for churches under GCQ of having only 10 individuals.
A dry run for the 10 percent attendance was carried out yesterday in selected churches, mosques and temples and will be held until July 10.
Badong said Sunday’s dry run indicated there was no need for additional masses.
Badong said churchgoers complied with the accommodation restriction and were disciplined with the other protocols and limitations.
Only 100 devotees are allowed inside the church during liturgical mass services.
“The people’s participation has been okay. They are disciplined and they understand why they need to queue, why they need to wait while disinfection activities are ongoing,” he said, adding: “Others have been patiently attending masses outside the church as we have also put up wide-screens and sound system outside.”
COVID THREAT
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra warned the faithful they can be barred from churches and other places of worship despite the eased restriction in GCQ areas should there be a “visible threat” of transmission of the deadly COVID-19 virus.
Guevarra said the IATF called for a dry run of the 10 percent limit so church managements can at the same time test health protocols that they laid down.
“The purpose of allowing up to 10 percent attendance in religious worship gatherings instead of 10 persons maximum in GCQ areas, apart from heeding the clamor of churches and the faithful, is to provide an opportunity to the various religious congregations to test the effectiveness of their health protocols prior to de-escalation to MGCQ where 50 percent attendance is permitted,” Guevarra said.
Local officials have been wary about increasing the number of participants in religious gatherings, saying this might lead to an increase in COVID-19 cases and derail their advancement to more relaxed quarantine schemes. — With Ashzel Hachero
