Pastoral Advisory #10: On the Celebration of the Eucharist on Sundays and Other Liturgical Celebrations

Archdiocese of Davao
5 August 2020

Our City Government, through our City Mayor, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, has publicly announced on Friday, 31 July 2020, through Davao City Disaster Radio that religious assemblies are now allowed on Sundays. With this announcement, please be guided with the following:

A. ON SUNDAY MASSES

This means that we can now organize and schedule Masses on Sunday beginning this coming Sunday, 9 August 2020. Please announce your new Sunday Masses schedule the soonest so that we can confidently say that our people are well informed about this.

It goes without saying that during these Sunday Masses, we will continue to observe strictly health protocols and other related guidelines given in our previous Pastoral Advisory (Pastoral Advisory #8, 20 May 2020).

B. OTHER LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS

1. GKK Masses and GKK Kasaulogan sa Pulong on Sundays
   We have guidelines already for GKK Masses (Section G of Pastoral Advisory #8, 20 May 2020). Kasaulogan sa Pulong in GKKs are now also allowed following the same health protocols and related guidelines for GKK Masses.
2. On Masses in Funeral Homes
   Previously, in our guidelines this was not allowed (Item 1 of Pastoral Advisory #6, 25 March 2020). Now, Masses in Funeral Homes are allowed following strictly the guidelines that we have: face mask for everyone, social distancing, etc. Added to this, it is important to note that the latest Executive Order (#47 dated 4 August 2020) of the City Government of Davao states that wake and burial services are for “family members only”. The priests celebrating these Masses have the grave responsibility in seeing to it that these health protocols / guidelines are strictly followed.
3. On Baptisms on Sundays
   In our previous advisory, since we could not have religious assemblies on Sundays at that time, we indicated that baptisms can be celebrated on weekdays (Pastoral Advisory #9, 18 July 2020). Now, needless to say, baptisms can be scheduled on Sundays. During these celebrations, again we say, health protocols and related guidelines have to be strictly followed.

   Please be reminded again that as practiced, the proceeds from individual baptisms shall be remitted to the chancery for the seminary fund. May I take this opportunity to let you know that our seminary fund is almost depleted.

Please be guided accordingly. Let me reiterate: Let us take seriously these necessary health protocols and related guidelines for the good of everybody and in the gospel spirit of authentic charity in these difficult times.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+ ROMULO G. VALLES, D.D.
Archbishop of Davao