SOME churches in Cebu City have noted a drop in mass attendance in the past week due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Rev. Fr. Jose Joey Belciña of Sto. Rosario Parish said he has observed an estimated 10 percent decrease of mass attendance this week.
"Tingali ang mga tawo, cautious lang siguro basin maoy hinungdan. Nagsugod ni katong kusog na ang balita bahin sa lockdown sa Manila then nag-start na og cancel sa ilang misa," he said.
(Maybe the people are just cautious. The [drop] began when news broke out that Manila will be placed under a lockdown and has begun canceling masses.)
The Sto. Rosario Parish normally holds 13 to 14 mass celebrations everyday, with days such as Wednesdays and Fridays having the most number of attendees.
"Last week, Sunday, ang amo lang gibasehan is the collections tungod kay makakita jud ka nga naay drop sa collections kay gamay ra ang manimba," he said.
(Last Sunday our basis for the decrease in attendance was the collections because it has dropped significantly. Only a few heard mass.)
He said the parish follows the safety advice of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and the guidelines issued by the Archdiocese of Cebu.
However, he admitted that it is somehow difficult to impose the one-meter social distancing inside the church.
As of now, there are no cancelations of mass celebrations in Cebu. However, should there be, Belciña said priests can still celebrate mass without the public and that they can still pull in mass intentions of the people.
Likewise, Rev. Fr. Ric Anthony Reyes of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño said they cannot deny the effect of Covid-19 in mass attendance.
"As to our assessment in the Basilica del Sto. Niño, 30 percent to 50 percent of regular attendees in our major masses on a Friday (Sto. Niño devotion day) and Sunday today, have been affected. We understand as our authorities advised the general public," he said in a text message to SunStar Cebu.
Reyes added they are following basic precautionary measures such as disinfection and provision of sanitizers or alcohol at entrances.
"Umaabot na sad ang mga thermal gun nga amo ipagamit sa mga gwardya ug kahapon, Sabado, naghimo mi og orientation mahitungod sa Covid-19 sa employees, volunteers and guards and janitors aron kahibaw sila sa basic nga buhaton aron mapugngan pang pagkatap aning virus," he said.
(Thermal guns are on its way which security guards will use [for checking body temperature]. Yesterday, Saturday, we conducted an orientation regarding Covid-19 to our employees, volunteers, guards and janitors so that they will know the basic protocols to prevent the spread of this virus.)
Meanwhile, all "The Feast" activities in the Visayas are postponed for two weeks due to the current pandemic.
The Feast is a Catholic fellowship and worship usually held every Monday and Saturday.
In a Facebook post on March 12, The Feast builders and leaders said a Feast live or video may be established in the coming weeks. (WBS)