Palma to lead Misa de Gallo in 9 parishes

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma will lead the Misa de Gallo in nine parishes across Cebu on different days leading to Christmas.

The prelate is expected to be at the St. Peter and Paul Parish in Bantayan on December 16; Archdiocesan Shrine of San Nicolas de Tolentino in San Nicolas Cebu City on December 17; Patrocinio de Maria Parish in Boljoon town on December 18; San Guillermo de Aquitania Parish in Dalaguete town on December 19; and the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Argao on December 20.

The next day, on December 21, he is expected to lead the Misa de Gallo at the St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish in Carcar City; and then at the St. Anne Parish in Barili town on December 22; National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City on December 23; and finally the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on December 24.

The masses are scheduled for 4:30 a.m. on those dates.

According to Palma, he is thankful that the celebration of dawn masses in these parishes has been greenlighted this time after being prohibited last year due to the pandemic restrictions.

“We are blessed that finally we can now do this (to hop from one church to another) to hold the Misa de Gallo. Of course, we have to ensure that the minimum health protocols must be followed,” Palma said.

The parishes mentioned are home to “karaan” or old churches which have also been given the so-called Jubilee Door by the archdiocese as part of the commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the coming of Christianity to the Philippines.

Cebu City and Cebu province are both categorized under the Alert Level 2 level based on the classification of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Under such classification, church activities are allowed subject to the observance of capacity limits and minimum standard health protocols. — JMD (FREEMAN)