CBCP guidelines on public worship

By Modesto P. Sa-onoy

Finally, we got the guidelines from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines on how public Masses are to be held. The churches are open but not completely and since there are still some restrictions in several places in the Philippines, the churches would not be full.

Physical distancing will be among the “new normal” when public Masses resume as the country continues to battle the coronavirus crisis, the CBCP said.

Religious services “with the people” (cum populo) have been banned since the start of the lockdown in mid-March and some worshipers have been calling for the reopening of churches especially in low-risk areas but the government did not heed the public demand. The State overrules the Church and churchmen complied, fearful as the government that the church even without people who are already quarantined, are not there.

Now that there is an easing of restrictions, last Saturday, malls, small shops and other businesses operate again. Some parish churches in the provinces also opened their doors anew adhering strictly to safety protocols.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines approved a set of guidelines when parishes will be allowed to hold religious services with people in attendance. “When the time comes and we are able to gather and celebrate the Eucharist, we will approach this next phase, in the context of the pandemic, with prudence, patience and loving and charitable mindset,” said Archbishop Romulo Valles, CBCP President.

The list of guidelines includes strict new measures on social distancing, use of face masks by worshippers, and installation of foot baths.

The bishops also suggested that the faithful continue to receive communion in the hand but no holding hands when reciting the “Our Father” during Mass. In fact, the holding of hands is not the right way but years back some priests, imitating the Protestant Pentecostals adopted the holding of the hands. The correct way is to clasp the hands in a gesture of prayer. I recall Pope Benedict XVI corrected this practice of holding hands. Some followed but others are stubborn, including priests who did not correct the practice.

On the other hand, the CBCP discouraged priests from wearing face masks or gloves during the celebration of the Eucharist. Indeed, the priest would look ridiculous with the face mask because Christ that he represents in the celebration of the Eucharist would not be doing that. Why would he be afraid of infection when he is far from his congregation?

“Instead, he should remain more than one meter from the congregation during the Mass. In such circumstances, there is no substantial risk of infection,” the guidelines stated.

The liturgical guidelines also urged the reduction of choir members who will sing during the Mass to keep physical distancing. It may even be advisable to have only a cantor who will lead the assembly in the singing,” Valles said.

This is not difficult especially if the choir was in their right place – the choir loft or the cantor leads. Often the congregation just listens to the “wonderful choir” rather than participate. The choir should lead, not replace the congregation.

“During the offertory, instead of passing baskets from person to person in each of the pews, there can be designated boxes or collection points where the faithful can place their contributions.”

This is the best time to enforce the tithing system as the Bacolod Diocese had declared. We have done this in our previous chaplaincy. We deposited the envelope with our tithe before going to our pews. That saved a lot of manpower, ensured the parish budget, and simplified the accounting.

The CBCP also suggested that the elderly, children, and the sick be dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass while the threat of the virus is still widespread. The young children and the sickly, yes, but physical health should be the criterion not age. The elderly needs the Eucharist the most.

“And since many of the lay ministers of communion are elderly and vulnerable to the infection, parishes are urged to train younger eucharistic ministers.” If there are few worshippers, we need fewer EMHE.

“Parishes should also distribute Holy Communion outside of the Mass for the sick and those who are taking serious caution not to be contaminated by the virus and therefore avoid gatherings of people even in Church,” Valles said.

At least we are getting somewhere.