CIRCULAR
Prtcl. No. 009. s 2020
TO : PARISH PRIESTS AND PRIESTS MISSION IN-CHARGE
RE : PROTOCOL CONCERNING PONTIFICAL MASSES AND OTHER MASSES TO BE PRESIDED BY THE ARCHBISHOP IN THE PARISHES
Dear Brother Priests,
PEACE!
I wish to reiterate and convey my profound gratitude for your participation during the Chrism Mass and the Renewal of Priestly Promises. The program you have organized even made my birthday celebration more meaningful.
As your pastor, your welfare and safety are my priorities in this time of pandemic. That is why I have been accepting invitations to say mass all over the Archdiocese. It is my ardent desire to talk to you personally and to assure the faithful of the Church’s presence and solidarity. With the experiences that I encountered these past few months, I have decided to set some protocols (rules) to effect a smooth and safe travel. Mainly, I request that the inviting minister may take the burden of the following:
- Coordinate properly with the LGU
- Secure the necessary papers needed for entry at the town/city borders.
- A church and a civil officer must be at the border to fetch us and facilitate our entry.
I also would like to remind and enjoin all the priests to abide by the protocols set by the LGU / DOH relative to health and safety. Our parishioners are also citizens of the land. As pastors, we should be at the forefront as examples to actively participate in this corporate desire to stem the tide of the contagion.
Again, I thank all of you for the pastoral work you are affording to your faithful. With my paternal blessings and solicitude, I remain.
Given this 1st day of November in the year of our Lord 2020, Solemnity of All Saints, at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center and Chancery, Palo, Leyte.
SGD. ♱ MOST REV. JOHN F. DU, D.D.
Archbishop of Palo