Christmas traditions are social by nature, though a lot of them have to adjust to restrictions brought about by the ongoing pandemic. One tradition remains though: simbang gabi. It was announced on Monday that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is making preparations for more simbang gabi masses to accommodate the faithful.
CBCP public affairs committee executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano assured mass goers that stringent health protocols will be enforced. Aside from the mandatory wearing of face masks, temperature checks and social distancing, all churches will have one entrance and one exit point to regulate the influx of visitors.
Fr. Douglas Badong, Quiapo Church’s parochial vicar, also implored the faithful to pray for an end to the pandemic. “These are nine days and churchgoers all have wishes. It’s better that they include in their prayer list that the virus be gone soon because this is also a preparation for the celebration of ‘traslacion’. The more people (praying), the more prayers (would) be heard,” he said.
Badong added that Quiapo Church will be holding additional masses at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 4 a.m., 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., to make sure that more people can be accommodated. For those who cannot physically attend simbang gabi, the masses will also be live-streamed on Facebook and other social media sites.
Header photo courtesy of Inquirer.net
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