Pastoral Advisory #2 on Covid-19 Crisis

[Please disregard the announcement titled Additional Announcement that I made late afternoon of Saturday, March 14, 2020. For facility, we are now naming these announcements as Pastoral Advisory and the corresponding number. Thus, this present announcement, which is a revision of that Additional Announcement of March 14, 2020 mentioned above, is now the Pastoral Advisory #2. And the first announcement, which has the heading Pamahayag, regarding cancellation of public Masses will now be referred to as Pastoral Advisory #1.]

I. On Mass Intentions

People are asking if in the regular private Masses of their priests in the parish, their Mass intentions can still be included.

The answer is yes. People are encouraged to continue this beautiful practice of having particular intentions included in the Mass. They can still go to the parish office and present or offer their Mass intentions – intentions for particular intercessions like thanksgiving, and remembering and praying for souls (Pamisa sa Kalag), healing, and other particular requests for prayer. And in the regular private Masses of your priest/s in the parish, your intentions will be included in the Masses.

II. On Funerals

Funerals are allowed with the following conditions:

1. The first option is for the priest/s of the parish to offer to the family the possibility of the Celebration of the Funeral Rites Outside the Mass. And a Mass for their Dead will be offered by the priest/s of the parish in a private Mass. This must be done with pastoral charity and sensitivity.
2. The second option is the Funeral Rites Within the Mass.
3. In both cases, the following are to be observed:
   1. 1. Only family members are to go inside the church, and social distancing is to be observed.
      2. Other people are requested to stay outside the church – “dispersed” or observing social distancing in the church compound.
      3. Without losing the dignity of the Funeral Liturgy, the parish personnel and the presider should see to it that the celebration will not be unduly prolonged. In other words, make it brief without losing its dignity. Public viewing of the deceased, messages or picture-taking are discouraged.
      4. In the case that Mass is celebrated, Holy Communion will be brought to the people outside the church by lay Eucharistic Ministers.
      5. In all these, aside from social distancing, other hygiene protocol is to be observed.

III. On Weddings

1. The scheduling of new wedding dates should be put on hold.
2. Weddings which are already scheduled with no possibility of being postponed may be celebrated with the following considerations:
   1. The first option is for the priest/s of the parish to offer to the bride and groom the possibility of the Celebration of the Sacrament of Matrimony Outside the Mass. This must be done with pastoral charity and sensitivity.
   2. The second option is the Rites of Holy Matrimony Within the Mass.
   3. In both cases, the following are to be observed:
      1. Only family members and those who have roles in the Rite, like sponsors and readers and others, are to go inside the church, and social distancing is to be observed.
      2. Advise clearly the couple that when the crowd becomes really a big gathering, the parish has the right to limit those allowed to enter the parish church. Question: What is the number? I leave this to the wisdom and prudence of the parish priest. Please know that in the current crisis, we keep in mind the prohibition of mass gatherings.
      3. In the case of people outside the church, they are advised to observe social distancing in the church compound.
      4. Without losing the dignity of the celebration of Holy Matrimony, the presider and the parish personnel must see to it that the celebration will not be unduly prolonged. For example, songs must be kept to their minimum; entrance of the bridal entourage and the bride herself, presentation of gifts, and the traditional pictorial must be managed to be quick and brief.
      5. In the case that Mass is celebrated, lay Eucharistic Ministers may bring Holy Communion to the people who may be outside the church. (cf. c.2 above)
      6. In all these, aside from social distancing, other hygiene protocol is to be observed.

IV. Sick Calls

The guidance on sick calls is found in the recent March 13, 2020 CBCP Advisory/Guidelines, no. 9: “We continue to minister to the sick by offering them the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick but following the necessary precautions proposed by the DOH, in particular the wearing of face mask.”

V. Baptisms

1. Please start announcing that any future schedule of the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism is put on hold.
2. For cases of emergency baptisms, the ordinary and regular practice is to be followed. Of course, needless to say, hygiene protocol is to be observed.

VI. Visit to and Prayer in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel

1. The parish personnel will monitor and see to it that those who come into the chapel will observe social distancing.
2. Needless to say, hygiene protocol is to be followed.

VII. Prayer in our cathedral, parish churches, public and GKK chapels

No. 6 of the CBCP Advisory/Guidelines says “Our churches should be kept open so that those who need to pray and seek prayerful moments may find solace and strength in these trying moments.”

VIII. GKK Fiesta Masses and Kasaulogan sa Pulong or Hiniusang Pag-ampo

1. Please be informed that the suspension of public Masses is extended to also include GKK Fiesta Masses and all GKK Masses.
2. Please know that the suspension is also applied to the celebration of Kasaulogan sa Pulong or Hiniusang Pag-ampo.
3. For the celebration of the fiesta in this time of crisis, there is this suggestion: That the fiesta novena prayers will be prayed by each family household of the GKK in their homes.

IX. Confessions

1. Scheduled organized availability for Confessions including General Absolution (which implies a crowd) is also suspended.
2. If somebody approaches a priest for confession, it is up to the priest to accommodate the request. Again, if he accedes to the request, hygiene protocol is to be observed.

+ ROMULO G. VALLES, D.D.
Archbishop of Davao
17 March 2020