QUEZON CITY, Philippines – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao issued a pastoral statement regarding the outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019.
Signed by Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, the statement gave guidelines regarding the precautionary measures that should be done on the liturgical activities during the Lenten season.
READ: full text of Pastoral Letter
This includes the suspension of recollections, retreats, pilgrimages, Stations of the Cross, prayer meetings and Kumpisalang Bayan. To cover up the canceled events, the diocese through its Facebook page @CubaoDiocesePH and YouTube account RomanCatholicDioceseofCubao will stream online recollections and masses.Also, the local church strongly discourages the kissing and touching of the sacred images and Holy water fonts will also be emptied.
In the holy communion, the ministers will sanitize their hands before and after the distribution.
All parishioners, volunteers, servers and even priests are advised to refrain from attending liturgical celebrations if they are sick or exhibiting flu-like symptoms.
Moreover, everyone is reminded to avoid spreading unverified or false information about the current situation to avoid panic and anxiety because of the outbreak.
The prelate continuously asks for prayers especially the Oratio Imperata in all the masses.
As of writing the Department of Health has confirmed 49 cases of COVID-19 in the country.