Pastoral Advisory #3 on Covid-19 Crisis

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord:

In these very difficult and trying times, I exhort you to keep your faith. We continue to pray to the Lord; to trust in him, in his love, in his care and protection, and in his mercy and compassion.

I would like to thank you for your patient and kind response to my call that, in the Archdiocese of Davao, all public Masses, that is, Masses with public attendance and participation, are suspended until further notice. Please be reminded again that only public Masses are suspended. And therefore, know that your priests are regularly continuing to celebrate the Eucharist in private. And let me remind you again that we are doing this, not because we have less love and appreciation for the Eucharist, but we are doing this as a collective charitable act. It is charity simply because by sacrificing and refraining ourselves from congregating and assembling to celebrate the Mass, we greatly help and contribute to the efforts of stopping the deadly spread of the COVID-19.

Let me continue with the following points:

First: Appreciation and Gratitude to our Priests

I would like in particular to thank our priests for their patient and generous and committed response to this present crisis that we are in.

Let me also gently remind our priests to strictly follow the directives of not celebrating public Masses. In the case that you do not obey this directive, and something happens directly related to the spread of COVID-19 in the context of the assembly that you presided over, you yourself will be personally liable and accountable.

Second: Ang Simbahan nga Kanunay’ng Maampoon

In these difficult days, aside from disciplined adherence to what our government and health authorities have directed us to follow as best hygiene protocol practices, please be reminded on what we do best as Church, and that is, we are a Church that prays [Kita ang Simbahan nga kanunay’ng maampoon.]. Thus, I am again reminding you that liturgical services, especially the Mass, are being broadcasted by DXGN radio and can be viewed through DXGN Facebook live streaming feed. Aside from these, DXGN will inform you of parishes having their own Facebook live streaming for their liturgical celebrations.

Also recommended is that, according to my first Pastoral Advisory (page 2 #2), families are exhorted to pray together. We now announce that very soon DXGN radio will take the lead for our families in their homes to pray the rosary together at eight o’clock in the evening (8:00 P.M.).

Third: Dispensation from the Duty and Obligation, as Required by Church Discipline, to Attend the Eucharist on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation

Now, as the last part of this Advisory, I have this very particular and important announcement for all the faithful in the Archdiocese of Davao:

Given the situation that the faithful in the Archdiocese of Davao are now not able to attend Masses due to the cancellation/suspension of public Masses, I, as the Archbishop of Davao, now hereby grant to all the faithful of the Archdiocese the dispensation from their duty and obligation, as required by Church discipline, to attend the Eucharist during Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. This dispensation from that duty and obligation will continue to apply to all the faithful of the Archdiocese of Davao until further notice.

May I remind you that during these particular days of Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, you can do a special prayerful act of spiritual communion with the Church in prayer by following our liturgical celebrations on TV and radio or through live stream feed on the social media.

In these difficult times we continue to pray for each other, and pray in a special way for those in government and its different agencies in the front line of the efforts to stop the spread of this dreadful disease caused by COVID-19.

May our prayers help us become also hopeful and confident in the Lord; and therefore, not to be defeated by fear. May the Blessed Mother continue to intercede for us.

Devotedly yours in Christ,

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