New-Year Covid Surge Closes Manila Churches

UCANews ^ | 1/3/22 | Joseph Peter Calleja

[marshmallow]

Philippine capital ups alert level, expects uptick in infections resulting from festive season activities

Two Catholic churches in Manila have been forced to close after priests and staff there tested positive amid a renewed surge in Covid-19 infections that the government blamed on festive season activities.

The National Shrine of Saint Jude Thaddeus and Saint Vincent de Ferrer parish in Manila announced they were suspending services, including Masses, from Jan. 1 to 14 because those infected were told to undergo quarantine.

“A priest and three Church personnel tested positive,” said shrine rector Father Lino Nicasio.

Catholics from around the country flocked to the St. Jude Thaddeus shrine during the Christmas holidays as Saint Jude is the patron saint of lost causes.

“We humbly urge all our parishioners to kindly follow our Masses via our Facebook account instead of praying inside the church. We need to be vigilant as the number of Covid-19 cases is now on the rise,” Father Nicasio added.

Meanwhile, several Church workers at Saint Vincent Ferrer parish in Manila also tested positive for the virus on Jan. 2 forcing its parish priest to close its doors.

“Our visiting priest has informed us also that he is experiencing severe fatigue and drowsiness, consistent with symptoms of Covid-19,” said parish priest Father Jun Toribio.

The church closures come amid a recent surge in coronavirus cases thought to be linked to the Omicron variant forcing the government to increase its virus alert level.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

Disagree.

Churches close themselves, so pervasive is the fear now. After a holiday season with its central message of “fear not,” they have returned to “fear.”

“Fear not” as their message is in the dumpster. No wonder that in Europe, for example, congregants locked out are not returning in the numbers expected.