CBCP calls for pealing of church bells on April 8 at 3pm
By CBCP News
April 7, 2020
Manila, Philippines
The head of the Philippine bishops’ conference called on parish churches to ring their bells in solidarity with an interfaith prayer service on Wednesday, April 8 against the coronavirus pandemic.
Archbishop Romulo Valles, CBCP President, said the simultaneous ringing of bells will be held at 3pm “to signal the start of a televised interfaith prayer” organized by the government.
“It will be comforting and encouraging for our people when they sense and observe that a spirit of unity and working together is there in these trying times,” Valles said in a circular released today.
The prayer activity is an initiative of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID).
Bishop Oscar Florencio of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines it will be led by the Chaplain Services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
“The AFP chaplains will assist to invoke the mighty help of God as we plead Him to heal those affected by Covid-19 and to spare us from this present pandemic,” said Bishop Florencio said.
As of April 7, the country has 3,764 cases of Covid-19. The death toll is not at 177, while the number of those who have recovered is now at 84.
‘Visita Iglesia’ under quarantine period? Take it online
By CBCP News
April 6, 2020
Manila, Philippines
The bishops’ media arm is offering a tool for Catholics under coronavirus quarantine to connect with their faith from even the furthest pew.
For nine years now, its “Visita Iglesia Online” has been helping Filipinos abroad keep their faith alive, especially during Holy Week.
As lockdown continues in many parts of the country, CBCP Media Director Msgr. Pedro Quitorio invited the people to make use of the Holy Week online portal.
“Today, when everybody is in quarantine and all liturgy in physical churches are closed to people, Visita Iglesia continues to be a portal for online retreats, catechesis, and liturgical celebrations,” he said.
Msgr. Quitorio said the portal allows one to pray the “pasyon”, Stations of the Cross, virtually visit churches, and attend streamed liturgical celebrations.
The website was originally intended for Filipinos living in non-Catholic countries and those who are sick or homebound and not as substitute to the liturgical activities done on parishes.
“Since 2011, online Visita Iglesia has been serving Filipinos in foreign countries, where going to physical church or parish was difficult or impossible,” Quitorio said.
“It also helped Filipino seafarers, the sick and those who, for one reason or another, could not make it to churches during Lent, Holy Week, and Easter,” he added.
In 2019, the CBCP Media Office has also released a Spotify podcast on the Way of the Cross and the Holy Rosary.
Spotify users can play the audio prayers in both English and Filipino versions for free.
As lockdown continues, faithful may send prayer requests online
By CBCP News
March 27, 2020
Manila, Philippines
Wondering where to request Mass intentions as lockdown continues in Luzon and other parts of the country?
The Media Office of the Catholic Bishops, Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has created an online platform on Friday to accept request for prayers.
Its director, Msgr Pedro Quitorio, said the faithful may now request for prayers through the website of CBCP News, the news service of the bishops’ conference.
“Amid the Covid-19 crisis, we are encouraged to make good use of the digital technology for our pastoral concerns and liturgical celebrations,” he said.
To request for Mass intentions, CBCP News has provided a form on its website that may be used for such purpose.
Msgr. Quitorio said they will then ask priests to say Mass online for their intentions.
Though partially, CBCP News has also listed the “online Masses” offered in different dioceses throughout the country — as public Masses remain suspended due to coronavirus.
Looking for Catholic things to listen to on Spotify?
By Niceforo Balbedina
April 13, 2019
Manila, Philippines
As Holy Week approaches, the bishops’ media arm has released a Spotify podcast on the Way of the Cross and the Holy Rosary.
Spotify users can play the audio prayers in both English and Filipino versions for free.
The CBCP Media Office said the podcast is part of its online “Visita Iglesia” which offers Lenten catechesis and allow users to undergo virtual church visits.
Launched in 2010, the website is intended for Filipino Catholics who may not be able to visit the churches during the Holy Week.
For nine years now, the online portal also features reflections, online retreat videos and other liturgical reading materials.
“This is intended for Filipinos who have no way of going to a parish church, such as those in other countries, the seafarers and those who are sick,” CBCP Media Office director Msgr. Pedro Quitorio said.
A separate Lenten podcast is also available via the CBCP Online Radio program “The Word of Life”.
