MANILA – The wearing of face masks is now optional for the clergy and the faithful during Masses in churches under the Archdiocese of Manila.
In Circular 2023-61, signed by Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula on Thursday, the public has the option to wear or not to wear face masks while attending the Eucharistic celebration.
“In liturgical celebrations done outside the parish church (e.g., anointing of the sick and confession during home/sick visitation), the priest must keenly observe and properly discern when to observe safety measures for the sake of others and oneself,” it added.
At the same time, he urged parish priests to continue to provide alcohol dispensers for hand sanitation.
“Let us continue to make available the alcohol dispensers in our parish churches and venues of celebrations, transactions, meetings, and activities,” the circular said. “We encourage everyone to make it a habit to sanitize hands before, during, and after every church activity or whenever necessary. Ministers of communion will continue to practice sanitizing their hands before distributing communion to the faithful.”
In receiving the Holy Communion, Advincula said, the faithful can receive the Host either on the tongue or in the hand.
The faithful may receive communion "either on the tongue or in the hand, at the discretion of each communicant," he said.
The head of the archdiocese noted that during the giving of the Sign of Peace, "all express to one another peace, communion, and charity" through a bow, a handshake, and for family members through a kiss or an embrace.”
“All these must be done with solemnity, grace, prudence, and charity,” he added.
The circular was issued after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Proclamation 297 on July 21, effectively lifting the state of public health emergency in the country as cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) continue to decline. (PNA)
