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— The Editors

Faithful urged to observe Holy Week via online 'Visita Iglesia'

By Ferdinand Patinio

April 6, 2020, 7:22 pm

MANILA – The faithful can observe Holy Week practices through an online Visita Iglesia as the enhanced community quarantine against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) remains in effect.

Monsignor Pedro Quitorio, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Media Office director, said the online Church activity was introduced nine years ago to cater to Filipinos overseas who are away during the annual Church occasion.

“Since 2011, Visita Iglesia has been serving Filipinos in foreign countries where going to physical church or parish was difficult or impossible. It also helped Filipino seafarers, the sick and those, for one reason or another, could not make it to churches during Lent, Holy Week and Easter," he said in a statement.

Considering the present situation where all liturgy in physical churches are closed, Quitorio said Visita Iglesia continues to be a portal for online retreats, catechesis, and liturgical celebrations.

Aside from virtually visiting churches, he said the faithful can also attend live Eucharistic celebrations.

“In online Visita Iglesia, one can pray the ‘pasyon,’ stations of the cross, virtually visit churches on Holy Thursday, and attend live online celebrations masses and other liturgical activities,” Quitorio added.

The online Visita Iglesia can be accessed at www.cbcpnews.net/visitaiglesia.

This year's Holy Week observance falls from April 5 (Palm Sunday) to April 12 (Easter Sunday).

Earlier, the CBCP has launched an online platform where the faithful can request for Mass intentions while the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine is still in effect.

The people may submit their prayer requests for thanksgiving, petitions, and for the repose of the soul, at the CBCP News website. (PNA)

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