Catholic Church to go online for Holy Week

MANILA, Philippines — For the first time, the Catholic Church will go online in observing Holy Week activities this year due to the enhanced community quarantine imposed by the government to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said masses for the Holy Week would push through but these would be held online.

“We will go online for as long as the situation will not get any better. All of our activities that are usually held in public for the Holy Week will also be online,” Pabillo said in an interview.

Pope Francis has appointed Pabillo as apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila following the designation of former Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in the Vatican.
While there are no public activities, Pabillo said the Catholic Church will remain open during the Holy Week for people who wish to find solace in prayers and churches.

Pabillo, however, stressed that the public should refrain from going outside their houses and follow the guidelines set by the government for the enhanced community quarantine to avoid getting infected.

Pabillo said the public can stay in their houses and devote their time reading the Bible and reciting the “Oratio Imperata” against the coronavirus.

“Pope Francis is calling for prayers against COVID-19. At the same time, we are also calling for prayers and for us Catholics, reading the Bible and reciting the rosary are the best form of prayers,” Pabillo said.
For the Holy Week, Pabillo said the Catholic Church is calling for prayers during all Fridays of Lent starting today and on March 27, April 3 and April 10, Good Friday.

“Let us try to fast and pray during that day,” he said as he urged the public to help the less fortunate and the homeless who were greatly affected by the enhanced community quarantine.