The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines or CBCP has issued guidelines on celebrating Holy Week during the enhanced community quarantine period.
This is so that Catholics may “find the balance between the worthy celebration of the liturgy of the Rites of Holy Week and the call of our health and civil authorities to help stem the rapid transmission of the coronavirus disease.”
(LIST: Where to Watch Live Online Masses in Metro Manila this Holy Week)
Below are the guidelines for Holy Thursday up to Easter Sunday:
Holy Thursday
- Chrism Mass
- Only the clergy will be allowed to be inside the Cathedral/church, observing social distance, hygiene and sanitation of the space for the liturgical celebration.
- The faithful can follow the celebration through the internet, TV or radio.
- Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
- The Explanatory rite of the “Washing of the Feet” may be omitted or simplified (reduced number of persons whose feet are washed).
- There is an option that after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, without the faithful, the priest with only two or three ministers, will carry the Blessed Sacrament in a Ciborium with a humeral veil, rides on a pickup vehicle and goes to all the streets within the parish. This becomes the Visita Iglesias of the faithful this year.
- People with lighted candles wait in front of their homes.
- Someone may read repeatedly the Gospel Narrative of the Last Supper, during the procession.
Good Friday
- We offer our faithful reflections on the Passion of the Lord through TV, internet, and radio, before the Celebration of the Veneration of the Cross.
- After the Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion, without the faithful, the presider in red cope or red stole over a surplice and cassock, rides a pick-up vehicle as he carries a Crucifix and goes to all the streets of the parish.
- People with lighted candles wait in front of their homes to venerate the Cross by kneeling down.
Easter Sunday
- The number of needed ministers needs to be regulated also for this celebration, including the choir. If there will be Baptism, only the parents and God-parents should be inside the Church.
- After the Easter Vigil Celebration, without the faithful, the presider with humeral veil rides on a pickup carrying the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance goes around the parish.
- The parishioners with lighted candles may bring at the door or windows of their homes the statue of the Blessed Mother. This becomes the Salubong of the parish this year.
What do you think about this?
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