Diocese of Balanga Bishop Ruperto C. Santos jabbed. File photo.
BALANGA CITY — Bataan Bishop Ruperto C. Santos on Friday announced that two Catholic churches in Mariveles town in cooperation with the local government unit will undertake vaccination for its parishioners once a week after the Holy Mass.
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Church in Poblacion will begin its vaccination project on Sept. 18 and every Saturday thereafter, while the Santa Gemma Galgani Parish in Mountain View will start on Sept. 26 and onward every Sunday.
The Holy Mass will start in Saint Nicholas Church at 4 in the afternoon and vaccination to follow at 5 of the same afternoon. At the Santa Gemma Parish, Holy Mass begins at 7 in the morning followed by vaccination of parishioners after an hour.
Bishop Santos himself acts as the parish priest of the Poblacion church while Father Jhoen Buenaventura serves as parish priest of the Mountain View church.
Describing the two churches as pop-in vaccine clinic, the bishop of the diocese of Balanga said the project is about going to church, undergoing vaccination, being safe and saving others from the pandemic.
Santos said the parishes allotted the Holy Masses for the unvaccinated with the encouragement and collaboration of the parish churches with the municipal government under Mayor Jocelyn Castaneda.
“This is an opportune time to catechize the parishioners about the necessity and the benefits of being vaccinated,” the prelate said, adding “sama-sama sa Santa Misa, sama-sama sa bakuna.”
“Para ito sa pangkalahatang kagalingan at kaligtasan laban sa mapanganib at mapaminsalang Covid–19,” Santos added.
He invited members of religious organizations, the teaching and non-teaching staff of church schools, and those serving in the celebration of the Holy Masses who are still not vaccinated to avail themselves of the opportunity.
Those willing to go to church and be vaccinated are urged to go to the parish office or to register online.
“Sa kagandahang-loob ng pamahalaang bayan ng Mariveles, mayroong nakahandang nakabalot na hapunan sa lahat ng magpapabakuna sa Saint Nicholas of Tolentino church,” Santos said.
