Church workers continue services amid Covid-19 pandemic

Church workers in archdiocesan offices and parishes have continued to offer their services amidst the threats of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Precautionary measures were set to ensure the safety of the workers dealing with parishioners who seek to avail of the services in times like this.

Parishes like San Pablo Parish in Juna Subdivision imposed that office hours be reduced to half to provide ample time for workers since Davao City has set curfew hours during the Enhanced Community Quarantine which ended last May 15.

Workers of Davao Verbum Dei Media Foundation, which runs DXGN 89.9 Spirit FM and Davao Catholic Herald, were provided with temporary board and lodging to ensure continuity of operations like the live-streaming of daily and Sunday Masses, while protecting them from possible exposure to the Covid-19 virus.

Though public masses were cancelled, there are families who seek the sacraments during instances when a family member dies and a mass before the funeral was celebrated.

Collections declined due to cancellation of masses but parishes have not included the possibility of retrenchment or layoff for workers since finding a job will be difficult in the months ahead.

Church workers are optimistic that things will go back before the pandemic but in a “new normal” setting.

Archbishop of Davao Romulo G. Valles has released a circular last May 18, anticipating to Celebrate our Liturgy in the “New Normal” Condition in preparation for the celebration of liturgy, especially the Eucharist, with the faithful in attendance.

“My sincere thought is, may we try to take the lead in showing the spirit of patience, calmness, understanding, open communication and cooperation in these very trying times as we continue to patiently present our particular concerns to the proper authorities,” the archbishop said. (John Frances C. Fuentes/DCHerald)