Online masses for Fiesta Señor to continue: Physical Novena cancelled

CEBU, Philippines — In what Augustinian friars described as a heartbreaking decision, the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu City cancelled all physical Masses for the ongoing Novena for Fiesta Señor 2021, the church leadership announced Monday afternoon.

The remainder of the Novena Masses until the day of the feast on January 17 will be streamed online.

The church leadership said it acknowledges the threat the Masses pose to public health with the thousands congregating at the Basilica for the Novena daily amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

“Having this situation in mind and moreover reminded by Christian morals that the utmost goal of the Church is to bring each and every Christian to an integral salvation, not only of the soul but also of the body which includes our health and well-being, we decided to cancel all public masses in the Basilica and to continue to celebrate through virtual or online as scheduled starting January 12, 2021 Tuesday, 5th day of the novena until the Fiesta Señor, January 17, 2021,” reads the Basilica’s official statement signed by its prior and rector, Fr. Pacifico Nohara, Jr.

The Basilica will also take down the wide screens where Masses are streamed around the compound to avoid people from going there still.

The church said it has observed that the number of people that go the Basilica for the Novena Masses has gone beyond the fifty percent capacity allowed under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) rules. And while physical distancing and other health protocols are observed strictly inside, this was not necessarily the case outside the church compound where devotees wait to be accommodated inside.

“It has been a tough challenge for the Basilica administrators with the government and private agencies to manage the flock of devotees and pilgrims at the Basilica in our simplified celebration of the Novena and the upcoming feast. For the four days, we have observed that the surge of people coming to venerate and celebrate the Novena Masses has brought us into a conclusion that a greater action should be done to prevent us from the virus,” the statement reads further.

The Basilica noted an estimated 50,000 devotees in the first four days of the nine-day Novena. Even those accommodated at the Plaza Independencia nearby where a screen for live streaming was installed also grew in number.

And while only four COVID-19 cases were traced back to the Misa de Gallo or Christmas-related Masses in December, the church management said one case is too many and the preservation of life is also an obligation.

“As this change in our celebration may bring sadness to many of us, but the situation has called us to rise above the situation and to choose this course of action for the common good and benefit of all. We ask for your great understanding and hoping that, with our hearts and minds attuned to God’s mercy to deliver us from the scourge of the pandemic, we can celebrate the entirety of the Fiesta Señor in God’s perfect time,” the statement reads further.

The Basilica, however, will remain open to devotees at a very limited time with health standards to be implemented inside.

The visit of the pilgrim image of the Santo Niño to five different parishes outside Cebu City will push through, however. The image will be sent off today, Tuesday.

Before the cancellation of the physical Masses, external mobile activities related to the Fiesta Señor were also cancelled, including religious processions, to prevent people from greater mobility and possible exposure to COVID-19.

For its part, the Sinulog Foundation, Incorporated also cancelled the ritual showdown of Sinulog contingents also because of the continuing threat of COVID-19.

Cebu City, for one, recorded double figures for the last 11 days.

As of January 10, Cebu City’s active cases went up to 370, of which 49 are new cases traced to 18 barangays.

Barangays with new cases include Apas with 12; Ermita with five; Camputhaw with four; Talamban, Pasil, and Bacayan with two each; and Banilad, Carreta, Guadalupe, Kasambagan, Labangon, Lahug, Punta, Sambag 2, T. Padilla, Tisa and Zapatera with one each.

Nine other cases still have to be traced.

In the last 14 days, there are a total of 43 barangays in Cebu City that have active infection while 37 others are without transmission.

What is more worrisome, though, is that there are now 48 medical frontliners who have been infected by the virus.

At present, public hospitals are at 68.1 percent occupancy while private hospitals have a 14.7 percent capacity.

Councilor Joel Garganera, deputy chief implementer of Cebu City’s Emergency Operations Center, close 50 health care workers are from 10 hospitals and clinics.

Most of the outside transmission are traced from workplaces and social gatherings while other sources include supermarkets and public markets, prison facilities, mall strolling, exposure to COVID-19 patients, visitations, vacations, neighborhood transmission, inbound travelers, hospitals, funerals, eateries, drinking sprees, and at other facilities. Some of those who got infected outside their homes have also reportedly infected those in their households. — JMO (FREEMAN)