THE coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic turned this year’s fiesta activities of Maasin City into yet another austere but deeply spiritual celebration.
“We continue to ask the intercession of Our Lady to protect Maasinhon from this dreaded invisible enemy – Covid-19 and at the same time letting ourselves be engulfed by her loving arms,” said Reverend Monsignor Oscar Cadayona, vicar-general of the Diocese of Maasin.
On Sunday, August 15, 2021, Diocese of Maasin Bishop Precioso Cantillas led the holy mass in honor of the feast day of the Our Lady of the Assumption at the Maasin Cathedral.
The bishop also thanked the sponsors and the Catholic faithful who were attending the novena masses.
On Saturday, Bishop Cantillas unveiled to the public the Diocesan Museum of Maasin and the commemorative monument of the Maasin Cathedral in celebration of the 53rd anniversary of the Diocese of Maasin and the 250th anniversary of Maasin as a Church.
The Diocesan Museum of Maasin is open for visitors from Tuesday to Sunday, 10.m. to 4 p.m.
To mark the event, Monsignor Cadayona said they distributed 250 gift certificates to the poorest of the poor in the parish.
The diocese also held the sacrament of confirmation to 250 children in the morning of Aug 11 and another 250 children in the afternoon.
“Our 250th as a church is marked by these only because of pandemic,” Monsignor Cadayona told Sunstar Philippines.
While religious and fiesta activities at the cathedral were streamed live online, Maasin Mayor Nacional Mercado also issued an executive order “for the implementation of strict movement restrictions” to help stop the spread of Covid-19 during the celebration.
“May this religious and cultural celebration remind us of our rich culture and our unwavering faith in God,” the mayor said.
As of August 13, Maasin logged 1,077 total confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 1,001 total recoveries, and 29 total deaths, bringing the total active cases to 47. (SunStar Philippines)