Archdiocese of Manila declares MAY 8 As day of Mourning for Covid deaths
The Archdiocese of Manila declared May 8 as a day of mourning for those who died from the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19). In a Pastoral Instruction, Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo announced they will be holding Mass for the Dead at the Manila Cathedral to commemorate the event.
It will be attended by the priests of the Archdiocese of Manila.
“The whole Archdiocese will mourn for our dead during this pandemic but with great hope given by the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus,” Pabillo said.
“A memorial wall can be set up in parishes with the pictures of those who have died this past year. This can serve as a reminder to all to always pray for them,” he added.
As of Wednesday, the Department of health reported 16,265 people have died due to Covid-19 infection.
Pabillo said the Mass will be streamed online so the public could participate.
Prior to the Mass, Pabillo said they will also dedicate a holy hour in front of Blessed Sacrament for those affected by Covid-19.
“Together we shall implore the Lord for the front liners [May 5], for the sick [May 6], and for the dead [May 7],” Pabillo said.
Also in his Pastoral Instruction, Pabillo urged parishes, Basic ecclesial Communities, schools and religious institutions to organize activities and programs that would promote charity, like feeding programs and distribution of food bags and gift certificates.
“Let us share even the little that we have through the Alay Kapwa sa Pamayanan that we set up in our communities so that there be no one among us who is in need,” Pabillo said.
Alay Kapwa sa Pamayanan is a campaign of the Caritas Filipinas, which is similar to the community pantries, where people could donate and access basic necessities.
Vatican dedicates May to rosary ‘marathon’ for end of pandemic
AT the Vatican, a rosary initiative was announced dedicating the month of May to prayer for an end to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New evangelization said on April 21 that “for the deep desire of the holy Father, the month of May will be dedicated to a prayer marathon with the theme ‘Prayer to God went up incessantly from the whole Church.’”
The council said that the world’s Catholic shrines would be involved in a special way as promoters of the rosary among Catholic individuals, families and communities.
Thirty of the shrines will take turns leading a daily live-streamed rosary at 12 p.m. eastern time, the council said.
The Catholic Church dedicates the month of May to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pope Francis will open the month of prayer on May 1, asking for Mary’s intercession.
Pope Francis spoke about the coronavirus and its economic effects in a video message to participants in the 27th Ibero-american Summit in Andorra on April 21.
The Covid-19 pandemic “has demanded enormous sacrifices from each nation and its citizens,” he said.
The crisis has called on“the entire international community to commit, united, with a spirit of responsibility and fraternity, to face the many challenges already in action, and those which will come.”
The pope said that he had prayed for the millions of people who have died from Covid-19, or who are suffering from the illness, as well as their families.
“The pandemic has made no distinctions and has hit people of all cultures, creeds, social and economic strata,” he said.
he emphasized the importance of considering anti-covid vaccination as a“universal common good.”
he said:“in this area, initiatives that seek to create new forms of solidarity at the international level are particularly welcome, with mechanisms aimed at guaranteeing an equitable distribution of vaccines, not based on purely economic criteria, but taking into account the needs of all, especially those of the most vulnerable and needy.”
“It is urgent to consider a recovery model capable of generating new, more inclusive and sustainable solutions, aimed at the universal common good, fulfilling God’s promise for all men,” Pope Francis said.
he added that, in responding to the coronavirus, attention should be paid to reforming the international debt structure and allowing access to external financing to promote economic development “so that everyone can get out of the current situation with the best chance of recovery.”
“None of this will be possible without a strong political will that has the courage to decide to change things, mainly priorities, so that it is not the poor who pay the highest cost for these tragedies that are hitting our human family,” he said.