MANILA Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo called on the faithful Thursday, April 1, to continue to have that desire to be physically present in churches as soon as it is permitted.
In his homily during the Mass of the Last Supper at the Manila Cathedral on Holy Thursday, Pabillo said the faithful should not be contented with just participating in online Masses and religious celebrations.
“At the moment, we are constrained to watch the online masses. But please do not lose the fire, the desire to be physically present when it is possible, and to really receive the body of Christ into our body,” said Pabillo.
He said this is because online masses can never be considered an acceptable form of religious celebration when actual Masses can be held in public.
“Our online mass is a poor substitute of the real physical participation in the mass,” said Pabillo.
Since March 2020, religious gatherings have been either prohibited or limited depending on the level of community quarantine imposed in the area.
In the National Capital Region, the enhanced community quarantine has been imposed until Easter Sunday, April 4.
During the Mass of the Last Supper, Pabillo washed the feet of four individuals at the Manila Cathedral.
“His message is clear after washing of the feet: Serve one another,” said the prelate.
The four individuals who had their feet washed are Augustinian friar Geoffrey Eborda Jr., full-time Manila Archdiocese catechist Ruzzel Ramos, Manila Cathedral social media staff Romain Garry Lazaro and Sisters of St. Francis Xavier member Sr. Venus Marie Pegar. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)