Day of prayer for COVID-19 dead

MANILA, Philippines — Manila apostolic administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo has ordered all parish priests under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Manila to dedicate May 8 as a day of prayer for those who died due to COVID-19.

In a pastoral letter, Pabillo said all parishes and religious communities will have a holy hour in front of the blessed sacrament to storm the heavens with prayers for the frontliners on May 5, for the sick on May 6 and for the dead on May 7.

Pabillo said that all priests of the Archdiocese of Manila will gather for the mass at 9 a.m. on May 8 to mourn the thousands who died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began more than a year ago.

“We firmly believe that God is powerful and he loves us. So we turn to him with confidence. Hence, in the Archdiocese of Manila, let us join our hands, our voices and hearts together in prayer and charity to implore God’s help as we also help one another,” Pabillo said.

He said the faithful can join with the Archdiocese of Manila in praying for the COVID-19 victims as he emphasized that the mass will be held online while the Manila Cathedral remains closed for renovation.

The Manila Cathedral was temporarily closed to the public to undergo renovations for the arrival of Jose Cardinal Advincula.