Cebu lenten processions back

(Photo by Leah Capuyan)
(Photo by Leah Capuyan)

FOLLOWING the continued decline of Covid-19 cases and consultations with local government units (LGUs) in the province, the Archdiocese of Cebu announced that it will allow Lenten activities outside parishes this year including the traditional foot processions and Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) along the highways and Visita Iglesia (visitation to seven churches).

However, these activities and the processional routes must be coordinated with “civil authorities, police and other groups that regularly assist” the parishes.

Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma issued Circular No. 2/22 on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 containing the general guidelines for Holy Week 2022 addressed to the clergy, religious and lay faithful.

This year, Holy Week will be celebrated from Palm Sunday, April 10 to Easter Sunday, April 17.

The circular written by Archdiocesan Chancellor Msgr. Renato Beltran Jr. also increased the seating capacity inside churches from 50 percent to 75 percent.

The decision to increase the seating capacity to 75 percent was reached after consultations with LGUs.

To observe the new seating capacity, the Archdiocese suggests allowing seven or eight persons to sit on a pew that normally can accommodate 10 persons in the pre-pandemic times.

Parish ushers and usherettes can be tapped “to guide the faithful to the available seats and if needed, will call the attention of those who may have overcrowded themselves on a particular pew,” read part of the circular.

Unlike in 2021 when Holy Week commemorations were confined inside churches, this year the holding of the traditional foot processions and Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) along the highways and Visita Iglesia (visitation to seven churches) will be allowed but the Archdiocese prohibits Andas (a parade of religious icons) as the people need to carry the icons.

“The procession’s route will take into consideration the width of the street or roads; hence, it is preferable to limit the route in roads that allow our faithful to maintain their physical distance. Procession marshals of the parish and those deputized by the local government will monitor and maintain the social distancing of those taking part in the processions,” the Archdiocese said.

The other reminders in the circular state that parishes must always coordinate with LGUs and there must be constant sanitation of churches.

“As already practiced, we should sanitize our respective churches after liturgical celebrations and provide alcohol for the sanitation of our faithful attending the activities,” the circular said.

On March 10, 2022, data from the Department of Health in Central Visayas showed the whole Cebu reporting just 45 new Covid-19 cases: 13 for Cebu City, seven for Mandaue City, six for Lapu-Lapu City, and 19 for Cebu Province.

This brought active cases in the whole Cebu to 1,244, the bulk of them in Cebu City at 670.

‘Big challenge’

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) expects a flood of Catholic devotees during the Holy Week celebration after Covid-19 restrictions were eased.

Police Lt. Col. Wilbert Parilla, CCPO deputy director for operations said their current task is to prepare security measures for the upcoming Holy Week activities that had been suspended for two years since the start of Covid in 2020.

Traditional Holy Week activities in the Philippines which include solemn processions and several liturgical events generally attract huge crowds.

“We have already prepared our personnel. Usually we already have the template because that is already a yearly activity. And then we have templates for the deployments of our personnel,” Parilla said in a mix of Cebuano and English.

“We are expecting a lot of people considering that the activities were suspended in the last two years and it is only now that the activities are back since the start of the pandemic. We are expecting more people that is why we need to focus more on personnel deployment,” Parilla added.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has agreed to resume the traditional Holy Week activities following a sharp decline in coronavirus cases in the city.

“It’s going to be big challenge considering there might also be national political personalities coming so that’s one of the challenges we’re preparing for,” he said.

Parilla said the CCPO will request for more personnel if needed from the Police Regional Office. (BBT)

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