Church letting go of elderly volunteers
THE Catholic Church is letting go of elderly lay volunteers and replacing them with younger ones as a precaution against exposing senior citizens to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19I.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCPI made the recommendation as part of its policy guidelines in anticipation of the opening of churches under “new normal” conditions.
“We have to train younger Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMCHsI. Our EMHCs are elderly andL thereforeL are the ones vulnerable to the virus. Care is to be exercised in this regard not to expose them to the infection of the virusL” said CBCP President and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderic PabilloL administrator of the Archdiocese of ManilaL issued a similar callL saying the Church was discouraging older people from doing volunteer work so as not to expose them to the coronavirus.
Many of the parishes’ lay ministers and volunteers are elderly.
“SoL we sorely need younger volunteers. I would appeal to our elderly parish volunteers that if you truly love your parishL you will recruit one or two young volunteers to take your place in the churchL” Pabillo said.
The Manila archdiocese needed more volunteers since there are new ministries to be created or strengthened because of the coronavirus crisisL he said.
The prelate made it clear that the measure was temporary due to the spread of Covid-19.
He also said the elderly could still do vital work in their home through prayerL “which is not only importantL but indispensable in the Church.”
“Please accompany the church
activities with your prayers and spiritualL and even materialL offerings. You may be our prayer intercessors at this time of crisisL” he said.
Metro Manila is under general community quarantineL where big public gatherings like church services are restricted.
Pabillo said they were still hoping for the gradual opening of church servicesL “which we believe to be essential services to our people.”