By URIEL C. QUILINGUING
Contributing Editor
THE head of the Roman Catholic church’s archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro on Tuesday advised more than a hundred priests in 62 parishes to suspend all masses and other public gatherings to help prevent the spread of novel coronavirus disease 2019.
Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, SJ issued the advisory four days after he disseminated a pastoral letter which spelled out precautionary measures all priests and lay ministers within the archdiocese must observe amid the threat of Covid-19 contagion.
“I am asking all our parishes to suspend all public masses and all public gatherings in our churches starting today until April 15, subject to further evaluation,” Ledesma’s advisory that was posted on-line reads.
He said the suspension of masses and gatherings in churches is “in solidarity with the directives of the Department of Health and our local government officials.”
Instead of attending a mass in church, he encouraged more than a million Roman Catholic church members in Misamis Oriental, Camiguin and Malitbog, Bukidnon—the areas under the archdiocese–to engage in spiritual communion through radio and TV masses.
“This would be an opportune time for family members to engage in regular prayers and devotions inside their homes,” said Ledesma, recommending further daily recitations of the family rosary.
He said basic ecclesial community members may gather in small groups for bible sharing and community prayer.
The archbishop also appealed to church members to support their parishes and extend care for the common good in times of emergency despite the suspension of public gatherings.
“This would also be a challenging opportunity for our Gasa Balik sa Diyos practice of regular household contributions for the parishes,” said Ledesma.
As of Tuesday, the national health agency has confirmed 187 cases of Covid-19, including 12 deaths and four recoveries from the pandemic viral disease.
One of the confirmed cases, patient 40, who was a Lanao del Sur native, died last Friday night at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center.
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