DAVAO CITY —The services of the Roman Catholic church is still available but everyone is advised to observe social distancing, says St. Francis de Assisi Parish Priest Msgr. Paul A. Cuison.
“We can still perform baptism, funeral rights and private wedding but we strictly impose social distancing,” he said. The parish of St. Francis de Assisi along Maharlika Diversion and Maa roads which has the capacity to host 800 people, is accommodating 50 persons “because we abide with the protocol of the Department of Health and we do disinfection every day,” says Cuison.
Since the community lockdown was imposed on March 10, over a dozen of special weddings has been cancelled “We had the last with only 50 people, as we strictly follow the protocol,” he added.
For funeral services, Msgr. Cuison said they still perform but “we advise them that only family members should be present while others who may want to attend should not compromise the protocol of social distancing.”
The church, according to Cuison, respects and observe the civil authority.
At the vicinity of the church, a staff offers alcohol to the churchgoers. “We cannot stop them from going to church, so, we need to make our way to support the civil authority by providing alcohol and we disinfect the vicinity regularly,” Cuison added.
The church still holds daily masses “but we do it among the staff and we Pray for the people who are infected with the virus, and, that it will not spread further,” he added.
Only regular masses are suspended where people converge, he stressed.-NewsLIne.ph
