CIRCULAR
Prtcl. No. 008 s. 2020
TO : ALL THE CLERGY – PARISH PRIESTS, MISSION STATIONS IN-CHARGE AND CHAPLAINS
RE : GUIDELINES FOR THE CELEBRATION OF MASSES “CUM POPULO” AND OTHER SACRAMENTS
Dear Brothers,
PAX!
“I was glad when they said to me: let us go to the house of the Lord…(Psalm 122: 1). The meeting place between God and man is the temple. It is the rightful place where people gather to worship and sing praises to the Lord. The deprivation of the temple caused undesirable effects on the people. It is on this line of thought and considering the paramount importance of the Eucharist for the life of the Church that I am giving these new provisions. Let us gather as a Church to pray, sing songs to God, and celebrate the mysteries of the Lord. May I, therefore, present to you the following provisions.
- Masses “cum populo” shall resume in the entire Archdiocese on May 1, 2020. This will include Sunday and Daily masses. Celebrations of cofradias, barrio fiestas, and Parish Fiestas have to be celebrated “cum populo.” (N.B. No 2, d of the Circ. 007.2020 will no longer apply upon the effectivity of this new circular)
- Parish and Mission Priests must coordinate with the local chief executives.
- During the celebration of the Mass, and other sacraments, the general protocol of the Quarantine must be followed, i.e., social distancing and wearing of masks.
- Churches and chapels must have provisions for proper sanitation (hand washing facilities and/or other instrumentalities for the same purpose)
- Provide ways of coming up with a proper listing of attendance. This will be a great help in case contact tracing will be needed.
- The celebration of other sacraments is allowed but always in keeping with the prescribed civil protocols.
- Sunday masses may be multiplied to distribute the attendance of worshipers.
- May Flower Devotion can be done. As prescribed by the “new normal,” children should refrain from attending said devotion.
The provisions of this new circular will take effect on May 1, 2020. This is for our guidance and compliance.
Given this 29th day of April in the year of our Lord 2020, Feast of St. Catherine of Siena, at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center and Chancery, Palo, Leyte.
(SGD) ♱ MOST REV. JOHN F. DU, D.D.
Archbishop of Palo