Many Masses in the Philippines now held online to adjust to COVID-19 lockdowns
All of us Filipinos have had to tweak our daily routines due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing everything from schools to offices to churches to be affected by lockdowns all over the country. And as a country with a majority of Roman Catholics, the Philippines’ religious practices have been affected too as people are no longer able to attend church in person easily.
Fortunately, the Catholic Church has made it possible for followers to attend Mass online while maintaining social distancing. Several churches and parishes in the Philippines have been livestreaming the Holy Mass through social media platforms such as Facebook and Youtube.
Catch live-streamed masses
Some churches around the Philippines that are providing livestreamed masses daily include:
Manila Cathedral
Schedule:
7:30AM, 12:10PM | Mon – Fri
7:30AM | Sat
8AM, 10AM, 6PM | Sun
Quiapo Church
Schedule:
5AM, 6AM, 12:15PM, 3PM, 4PM | Mon – Sat
5AM, 6AM, 10AM, 12:15PM, 3PM, 4PM | Sunday
Our Lady of The Miraculous Medal Parish
Schedule:
8AM | Mon – Sat
8AM, 11AM, 6 PM | Sun
How online Mass attendees are asked to prepare for the livestreams
Image credit: Grant Whitty
Though attending a livestreamed Mass from home makes it tempting to stay in your pambahay, unbathed, with your hair resembling an untamed lion’s mane, Bishop Broderick Pabillo reminds followers to take it just as seriously as we would hearing Mass in a physical church.
His pastoral instructions include:
- Preparing yourselves well for it. Do not watch it with a cup of coffee in hand.
- Before the Mass, read the Mass readings to prepare yourselves better to hear them once they are proclaimed.
- Have a moment to think of what to thank the Lord for and what to offer him during the Mass.
- Remember that you are praying with many fellow Catholics not only in your parish but all over the world.
- Stay in a reverent gesture throughout the Mass, standing or sitting properly.
- It would be good if the whole family is together.
- Do not just watch the Mass, join in it with your prayers, responses and singing.
- At the time of communion, say a spiritual communion.
Worshippers can also watch livestreamed Masses by the Pope, and attend Holy Week at the Vatican online
Those who’ve always dreamed of attending Mass at the Vatican City but never had the chance to can now hear Mass said by Pope Francis streamed online at these times:
CatholicTV
Schedule (in local Philippine time):
8PM | Thurs
12:30PM | Sat
11PM | Sun
Holy Week at the Vatican will also be livestreamed from St Peter’s Basilica on CatholicTV from 5th to 10th April, or Good Friday. Catholics can also follow the Philippine churches’ social media pages for upcoming Good Friday and Easter livestreams, sure to come soon.
It’s heartening that Masses are available online, and we hope that more commemorative and public events, whether or not they are of a religious nature, can be broadcast live on our social media feeds for the sake of everyone’s health and safety as well.
Also check out our COVID-19 articles:
- 24 online grocery websites in Metro Manila
- Sierra Madre visible from Metro Manila due to ECQ
- 3 pandemics and epidemics that hit the Philippines besides COVID-19
Cover image adapted from: @bebsantonio, Pontificio Collegio Filippino