THE Archdiocese of San Fernando released guidelines for the observance of Holy Week starting with Palm Sunday, in accordance with the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments in its "Decree in time of Covid-19."
"Given that the date of Easter cannot be transferred, in the countries which have been struck by the disease and where restrictions around the assembly and movement of people have been imposed, Bishops and priests may celebrate the rites of Holy Week without the presence of the people and in a suitable place, avoiding concelebration and omitting the sign of peace," the archdiocese said.
Guidelines for Palm Sunday (Passion of the Lord) are: its celebration within sacred buildings and not in malls, clubhouses, function halls, private mansions as these are not sacred buildings; the blessing of palms outside the church with procession to the church is not used and no need to sprinkle holy water; the proclamation of the Word of God and the prayer of blessing suffice to impart the blessing; when the faithful follow the liturgical celebration through live streaming, the blessing of their palms or any leaf branches is imparted by the scriptural reading and the Prayer of Blessing; and there is no need for holy water for the blessing of palm or leaf branches.
The guidelines stated that there should be a live streaming of the liturgy of Palm Sunday, as well as other Holy Week liturgies in the cathedral and parish churches.
Livestreamed liturgical celebration means actual, real-time celebration and not pre-recorded. No motorcade, house-to-house blessing of palms in exclusive subdivisions, villages and private mansions. The faithful should be informed beforehand that there is no individual blessing of palms or leaf branches after the Mass at the sacristy or sanctuary, the Archdiocese added.
Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday guidelines are: other celebrations are not permitted, except funeral masses; no weddings, masses, and other ritual masses and votive masses; no procession to be held on Holy Wednesday; and there should be livestreaming of the Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday and Holy Wednesday liturgies in the cathedral and parish churches.
The Holy Thursday Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper is to be celebrated ONLY in the Cathedral and Parish Churches and not in oratories, malls, clubhouses, functions halls, or private mansions. No Dakit Cordero, no "Visita Iglesia."
The archdiocese provided two options (of which only one could be chosen) for the Eucharistic adoration:
1. To prevent the faithful from congregating in number for the Visita Iglesia, the faithful can instead bring in motorcade the Blessed Sacrament (in a veiled ciborium not in a monstrance) around the parish after the celebration of the Lord's Supper while people venerate outside their houses. They may be encouraged to kneel and hold candles. If this is done, strict coordination with the local government units (LGUs) and barangay officials is necessary. There will be no need for an altar of repose that will be set up in the Church for this year. After the celebration, the Blessed Sacrament will be reposed in the sacristy in silence. The church will be closed from then on till the next celebration.
2. Another option, if the parish decides to have the Altar of Repose, is to open the Church for the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for a short period e.g. 1 hour, then the Church is closed and public adoration is ended. The transfer of the Blessed Sacrament is done in a simplified way from the altar to the altar of repose without the usual procession within the Church.
The archdiocese said family members gathered in their homes are encouraged to gather the money or goods, which were fruits of their Lenten penance. They can send this to their parish, to any charitable institutions or a poor family in the community.
For Good Friday, there would be no processions and other celebrations, including funeral masses. Since processions are still discouraged, the "Salubong" can be replaced by a motorcade of the statue of the Risen Lord and the Nuestra Señora de la Alegria (Our Lady of Joys) brought around the parish, after the celebration of the Easter Vigil or in the dawn, before the first Easter Sunday Mass. If this is done, strict coordination with the LGU and barangay officials is necessary.
"The faithful should be informed of the beginning times of the celebrations so that they can prayerfully unite themselves in their homes. Means of live (not recorded) telematic broadcasts can be of help. In any event, it remains important to dedicate an adequate time to prayer, giving importance above all to the Liturgia Horarum (Liturgy of the Hours)," the Archdiocese said. (JTD)