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CBCP APRIL 13 - 26, 2020 VOL 24, NO. 8 [email protected] A domestic vessel facilitates the transfer of chromite ores from Techiron port in Homonhon Island to a foreign cargo ship docked few nautical miles away from the shore on April 14, 2020. The island’s residents are protesting the loading operations of a China- bound ship amid coronavirus concerns. DAIPEN MONTES/CBCP NEWS Catholics observe Holy Week ‘unconventionally’ in ‘extraordinary times’ By Rommel F. Lopez | they were. We didn’t have PressOne.PH Christmas this 2019 because of [Typhoon] Ursula and now IT should have been we won’t have a nice Holy the usual Holy Week Week because of COVID-19,” he has celebrated he said. It is indeed an since getting extraordinary time for 85% of ordained for the the Philippines’ 104.9 million Catholic priesthood Filipinos who identify as 12 years ago. Roman Catholics to observe But for Fr. Mark Ivo traditional practices during Velasquez of the Archdiocese the holiest of days in the of Palo, a survivor of Church’s liturgical calendar, Supertyphoon Yolanda, this with the whole world fighting is a Holy Week like no other. this pandemic. He had to take a tricycle to Priests like Fr. Velasquez visit some of the 20 chapels had to find more creative in his “mission station” in ways to minister to their Alangalang, Leyte, composed people especially after both of 14 barangays. civil and church authorities A conversation with his prohibited public gatherings tricycle driver made him to lessen the spread of realize that this was no Covid-19. ordinary season. “My trike driver was telling CBCP guidelines me as we toured the barrios The Catholic Bishops’ that this was worse than Conference of the Philippines Yolanda. And I agree with released guidelines for him because we still got to bishops and priests in the Fr. Mark Ivo Velasquez visits the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Mission Station in Brgy. Dapdap, Alangalang, Leyte to bless the palms of his parishioners on Palm Sunday, celebrate these feasts as Holy Week / A6 April 5. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Caritas Manila gives P1-billion gift certificates to help poor amid lockdown CBCP: Easter spirit ‘alive’ in Filipinos’ sacrifice, service amid pandemic A CHURCH-BASED social from at least 633 parishes service agency has provided in Manila and the dioceses around P1 billion worth of aid of Cubao, Antipolo, Imus, as of April 8 to poor families Malolos, Parañaque, affected by the lockdown Kalookan, Novaliches, San triggered by the coronavirus. Pablo and Pasig. Caritas Manila used the Fr. Anton Pascual, Caritas funds for the door-to-door Manila executive director, distribution of P1,000 gift also credited their “Oplan certificates to over four Damayan” to some business million households within groups who helped raise the the greater Manila area, funds for the needy. Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao, CBCP President, leads the Easter vigil Mass April 11. SCREENSHOT/DXGN A Franciscan priest gives a grocery voucher from Caritas Manila to a family in the according to Radio Veritas. Aside from from the grocery city’s Sampaloc district. PHOTO FROM RADIO VERITAS The beneficiaries came Caritas / A5 THE many people’s “heroic coronavirus crisis, Catholic service and sacrifice” are bishops said. Jesuits, De La Salle Brothers join hands for Covid-19 relief ops concrete signs of the Easter In his Easter message, spirit in the midst of the Spirit / A7 THE Jesuits and the De La Salle the University Athletic Association of of both schools were also generated Brothers have banded together to raise the Philippines, the country’s biggest through the Bayanihan Musikahan, Homonhon Island residents money to support people facing hunger collegiate league. an online fundraising concert series amid a strict coronavirus lockdown. “Indeed, the Covid-19 pandemic spearheaded by National Artist for dissapointed on DENR turnaround As of April 15, they have raised more knows no competition and reminds us of Music Ryan Cayabyab. than P10 million to feed around 500 our ability to come together in times of To date, the initiative has raised more LOCAL Church officials of prudence to protect the homeless staying in safe shelters and great need,” the Jesuits said in an article than P40 million and reached over are disappointed over the province, which has been over 6,000 urban poor families in Metro posted on their website. 16,000 urban poor families in Metro decision by the government’s under lockdown since March Manila. DLSU was one of the first schools to Manila. body to U-turn on the 22 from coronavirus threat. The Jesuits and the De La Salle provide temporary sanctuary to street Ateneo has also initiated a fund drive mineral loading operations “This collective stand is Brothers run two of the biggest schools dwellers in Manila during the enhanced to provide protective equipment for of a Chinese-manned vessel based on the principle of in the country, Ateneo de Manila community quarantine. Its campus in hospital workers and food packs for on Homonhon Island. general welfare, health and University (ADMU) and De La Salle Greenhills also provided shelter for families who have been affected by the Bishop Crispin Varquez safety of our people,” Varquez University (DLSU), respectively. health workers of The Medical City. loss of jobs due to the lockdown. (CBCP of Borongan said all they said. The two schools are known rivals in The funds raised from the alumni News) were asking was an exercise Homonhon / A3 A2 WORLD NEWS April 13 - 26, 2020 Vol 24, No. 8 CBCP Monitor Team of young Chicago priests answer Vatican Briefing the call to anoint COVID-19 patients Remain faithful in uncertain times, urges Pope Francis CHICAGO, Ill.— The In uncertain times, our ultimate goal should be to Archdiocese of Chicago has remain faithful to the Lord rather than to seek our own assembled a team of 24 security, Pope Francis said at his morning Mass April priest volunteers— all under 14. Speaking from the chapel of his Vatican residence, age 60, and without pre- the Casa Santa Marta, the pope said: “Many times when existing medical conditions— we feel secure we begin to make our plans and slowly to administer sacramental move away from the Lord; we do not remain faithful. anointing of the sick to And my security is not what the Lord gives me. It is an Catholics with COVID-19 idol.” To Christians who object that they do not bow during the coronavirus before idols, he said: “No, perhaps you do not kneel, but pandemic. that you seek them and so many times in your heart you Father Matthew O’Donnell, worship idols, it is true. Many times. Your own safety pastor of St. Columbanus opens the door to idols.” (CNA) Parish on the city’s South Side, has been a part of the Covid-19 crisis forces us to choose between life and love team for about three weeks, of money, says pope and told CNA that so far he We face a fundamental choice as we seek to resolve has anointed two people with the coronavirus crisis, Pope Francis said during his COVID-19. morning Mass April 13. “Thus, in finding solutions “I know that all of us who to this pandemic, the choice will be between life, the are doing this ministry in A priest performs the sacrament of anointing of the sick. KRISTINA ISMULYANI/SHUTTERSTOCK resurrection of the people, and the god of money,” the Chicago right now are doing pope said. “If you choose money, you choose the way it because we believe that convey the patient’s name, our parishes aren’t able to COVID-19 patients. of hunger, slavery, wars, arms factories, uneducated this is what we’re called to the hospital where they have public liturgies right One of the recommended children... there is the tomb. Lord -- it is the prayer of do as priests, to be present are located, and any other now, this was a way for me to practices was to make sure the pope -- help us to choose the good of the people, to people,” Fr. O’Donnell pertinent information. really minister and to really not to dip their thumbs into without ever falling into the tomb of mammon.” (CNA) told CNA. When he first offered to reach out people and allow the oil twice— so as to avoid “And I think all of us are volunteer, Fr. O’Donnell the Church to be present to contaminating the oil— and Vatican thanks Chinese groups for donations to combat knowledgeable of the risks, said he thought it would be a people in what is definitely a instead use a different finger coronavirus but the importance of the while before he actually got moment of great suffering.” to anoint first the patient’s The Vatican has thanked Chinese organizations sacrament outweighs that.” a call to anoint a COVID-19 At the first hospital he head, and then the hands. for donating medical supplies to help it combat the The archdiocese is divided patient. visited for the anointing, The priests were coronavirus. The Holy See press office said April 9 into six vicariates, or regions. In reality, the day after he Father Matthew said he encouraged to either burn or that the Vatican Pharmacy had received donations Within each one, O’Donnell agreed to volunteer, the priest wore a bodysuit, a gown, bury the cotton on which they from Chinese groups including the Red Cross Society said, the archdiocese wanted received his first request. gloves, an N95 mask, placed oil, and to disinfect the of China and the Jinde Charities Foundation of Hebei to ensure that there were at “Knowing that there’s goggles, a hairnet, and shoe outside of the oil stock.