MASSES with a congregation, baptisms, confessions and weddings will be allowed in parishes in Cebu, particularly in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) status or modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
This, after Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma issued new protocol on Monday, May 25, 2020, that would allow certain sacraments and religious activities to continue in some parishes in Cebu.
Palma said the newly issued protocol, entitled "We Pray and Heal as One," will serve as guidelines for parishes on how they plan to conduct religious activities should they remain under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) or be downgraded to GCQ.
Under the new protocol, parishes under GCQ and MECQ can hold masses but with fewer people.
Live-streaming of masses will continue for parishes under GCQ and MECQ but only for those who cannot physically participate in religious activities, such as the very young and the elderly.
Parishes in areas under GCQ and MECQ will be required to change their mass schedules, with a half-hour gap between masses to allow time for churchgoers to leave the church and church personnel to prepare the interior before the next mass.
Restrictions
Masses in private homes, factories and offices, especially on First Fridays, are still prohibited until further notice.
As part of new protocol, parishes will be required to provide footbath containers and hand sanitizers at church entrances.
Masks should be worn at all times inside the church.
Other sacraments such as baptisms, marriages and confessions will be allowed with some restrictions.
Baptisms can only be held during weekdays. Only the parents and one set of godparents can attend.
In confession, parishes are required to reconfigure confessional boxes to allow social distancing. If this is not possible, then the confession must be done outside the confessional box with the priest maintaining a one-meter distance between himself and the penitent. Both priest and penitent are required to wear face masks.
Confession through telephone or teleconference is strictly prohibited.
For weddings, parishes must require couples to organize simple weddings with only the couple, their immediate family and one set of principal sponsors allowed to attend.
Cost-saving measures
The sacrament of confirmation is allowed for parishes under GCQ and MECQ but only for individual confirmations, especially for adults who are preparing for marriage or a maximum of five confirmants per confirmation.
Masks must be worn at all times and social distancing must be observed.
Meanwhile, the Archdiocese ordered all parishes to minimize expenses and suspend improvement projects for their churches for the time being.
The Archdiocese expects parish revenues to dramatically decrease as most parishioners are burdened with expenses and have been without their usual sources of income.
Due to this, Palma suspended the monthly parish remittance to the Curia, or archdiocese’s administrative office, for the months of March, April and May.
Since May 20, Cebu Province has been on GCQ.
Talisay City is under a state of modified ECQ, while the cities of Cebu and Mandaue remain on ECQ. (JCT)