CHURCHES within the Diocese of Cubao and Novaliches will temporarily stop holding on-site masses to minimize the risk of Covid-19 spreading among their parishioners.
On Sunday, Bishop of Cubao Honesto F. Ongtioco and Bishop of Novaliches Roberto O. Gaa made the announcements in separate statements in response to the spike in daily infections this month from 4,000 to over 8,000 during the weekend.
This, as two more local Church officials are now infected with Covid-19.
On Sunday, Archbishop of Lipa Gilbert A. Garcera confirmed he tested positive for Covid-19, which makes him the 10th Filipino prelate to be afflicted with it.
The others are Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples Prefect Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Ilagan Bishop David William Antonio, Caloocan Bishop Emeritus Deogracias Iñiguez, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz, Imus Bishop Emeritus Manuel Sobreviñas, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Antonio Rañola, and San Fernando (Pampanga) Archbishop Florentino Lavarias.
Also recently infected is Caritas Manila executive director Fr. Anton Pascual, who is now recovering at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center.
Prior to his infection, Pascual as Caritas head had been exposed to poor families who were affected by Covid-19.
The clergymen’s camp appealed for prayers for their quick recovery.
Following Pascual’s infection, Caritas Manila imposed a “lockdown” in its office in Pandacan Manila so it could undergo disinfection.
The lockdown will be from March 20 to March 28, 2021.
Caritas Manila, however, assured the public that services provided by its volunteers in different parts of Metro Manila for Covid-affected people will continue during the lockdown.
QC hard-hit
Among the hardest hit by the surge is Quezon City, which is covered by both the Diocese of Cubao and Novaliches.
“Voluntarily closing our places of worship at the highest point of our liturgical year is heartbreaking. But we also open our eyes to a situation that puts many of our faithful at risk,” Ongtioco said in a statement.
For his part, Gaa said he made the decision after talking with Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.
“I believe that if nothing drastic is done and things are left as they are now, the worsening situation could spill further onto other places both within and beyond our Diocese,” Gaa said.
The new measures from both dioceses will take effect from March 22 to April 4, 2021 in the Diocese of Cubao.
The masses in the Diocese of Cubao will resume on April 5, 2021, while in Novaliches it will be on April 4, 2021.
For the duration of the two-week closures, both prelates said their priests will celebrate Holy Week and masses on online platforms.