Huge crowds are expected this year as in-person Holy Week activities are now allowed to resume after two years due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Negros Oriental is now under Alert Level 1, allowing for the resumption of these activities, he said.
Bishop Julito Cortes of the Diocese of Dumaguete on Tuesday told reporters that the usual face-to-face religious gatherings and penitential activities will be carried out in the parishes provided that people still follow the health protocols such as the wearing of face masks.
Cortes noted that the pandemic restrictions in the past two years prevented large crowd gatherings during the Holy Week, with the majority of the church activities held virtually or via radio or television.
“We are now back to the usual activities but we have to observe minimum safety protocols, particularly the wearing of face masks, especially with the campaign period for the May 9 elections where people are no longer observing social distancing during sorties,” the bishop said.
Other usual Lent activities that are now allowed are the “Visita Iglesia” where people visit at least seven churches to pray in and venerate the Blessed Sacrament; the “Siete Palabras” or Seven Last Words; the “Via Crucis” or Way of the Cross; the Santo Entierro procession; and the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday masses. (PNA)
