Baclaran Wednesday Masses resume

Inside, only two parishioners were allowed per pew, with each spot designated with a number that must be indicated in the health form

Wednesday Masses at Baclaran Church resumed yesterday, the first time since community quarantines were enforced Luzon-wide last March, but following government mandated health and safety protocols.

The first Mass at 8 a.m. saw only 200 parishioners being allowed access inside the church.

This follows the guideline provided by the Inter-Agency Task Force that allows religious gatherings but provided only 10 percent of a venue’s seating capacity is occupied.

Devotees of the Mother of Perpetual Help lined up as early as 6 a.m. for the service.

Those who failed to gain entry to the church were allowed to listen to the Mass outside the church compound.

Scheduled Masses are at 8 and 11 a.m., 1, 3 and 5 p.m.

Barangay Chairman Jeff Zaide said their tanods were deployed as early as Tuesday night to ensure orderliness around the church.

Following COVID health standards, all church goers have to use a foot bath, wash their hands, have their temperatures checked, and fill out a health declaration form for purposes of contact tracing.

Inside, only two parishioners were allowed per pew, with each spot designated with a number that must be indicated in the health form.

Prior the pandemic, the church could accommodate up to 2,000 guests during the Wednesday Masses.

Only two gates to Baclaran Church were opened — one at Redemptorist Road and the other on Auxiliary Road along Roxas Boulevard. This will help authorities control the number of those wishing to enter the church.

Likewise, cars and motorcycles are not allowed inside the compound. However, those using bicycles will be allowed entry, provided that the vehicle will be disinfected.