Archbishop Florentino Lavarias
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – New guidelines under the general community quarantine have been announced by the Archdiocese of San Fernando.
Archbishop Florentino “Dong” Lavarias said the guidelines are in strict compliance with the minimum public health standards by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Lavarias said, “these guidelines are issued due to our extraordinary situation. They are intended to preserve and continue religious services, while at the same time preventing the spread of the coronavirus disease.”
As part of the general preventive measures, senior citizens and the youth are restricted and only those aged 21-59 years old will be allowed to attend religious activities in churches.
Body temperature of those who will attend the church will be checked and wearing of face mask and physical distancing should be observed at all times.
But on top of these requirements, Holy Mass Admission Passes will be issued to pre-determined people depending on the capacity of each parish and only those bearing these will be allowed to enter.
“Identity forms will be filled up by churchgoers for contact tracing. There will be alcohol dispensers and foot baths at all church entrances, and disinfection will be done after every service,” the archbishop said.
For baptism, only the priest, child, parents and two witnesses will be allowed while for weddings, only the priest, couple and their immediate families, and two witnesses will be allowed inside the church during the wedding ceremony.
For both sacraments, no more than 10 persons will be allowed inside.
“Parishes must forego all scheduled mass confirmation this year. In case of need, only two godparents are allowed and this will be administered by a priest,” Lavarias said.
For parishes with mortuaries, wakes should be limited to three days and two nights only; however, wake for Covid-19 victims are not permitted. There will also be no funeral or wake mass, but only funeral blessing from a priest.
Prayer meetings and processions are also not allowed.
The archbishop said these guidelines will take effect immediately, except for the Sunday obligation which is dispensed until the end of June.
