Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo encouraged every Catholic to join the Archdiocese of Manila’s clergy and the religious for a day of prayer and fasting on June 1, Tuesday, the month for the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In his statement aired over Radio Veritas on Monday, May 26, Bishop Pabillo emphasized that while we pray harder to end the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to display our sincere penitence asking for God’s mercy.
“Ang mahalaga dito (ay) yung penitensya kasi matagal naman na tayong nagdadasal ng Oratio Imperata, pero baka yung panalangin natin ay kulang pa ng pagsisisi. Kaya hinihingi din namin sa lahat na mag-fasting tayo during this day, at least you missed one meal during the day para sa bansa… kaya kailangan ng prayer and fasting para seryoso tayo sa ating dasal,” Bishop Pabillo said.
He said that the public can do prayer and fasting at home or workplace, and can join the three-part penitential service through online streaming starting at 8:30 in the morning.
“Mahalaga po yung tatlong moments. Isang moment ng pagsisisi dyan sa Quiapo Church – Penitential Rite. Tapos yung moment ng journey, yan yung paglalakad mula sa Quiapo Church hanggang Sta. Cruz Church, and then the moment of the Eucharist na pagsamo sa Diyos sa pamamagitan ng Eucharist. Kaya may tatlong moments tayo na inaalaala dito: pagsisisi, paglalakbay nang may pagbabago at Banal na Eukaristiya – paglalakbay patungo sa Diyos.”
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Apostolic Administrator said that the activity was approved by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and shall be limited to the priests and a few lay people who will represent their respective parishes, schools and communities.
“Ang paglalakad at pagsisisi ng mga pari, dala-dala nila yung mga parokyano nila, yung mga faithful nila so they just represent the people,” Pabillo said. “Yung mga pari ay naka-sutana para mapapansin na mga pari lang ang nandoon. Humingi na po tayo ng pahintulot kay Yorme at pinayagan naman tayo kasi mga pari lang naman. At saka may distancing kasi maglalakad lang naman talaga papunta roon (sa Sta. Cruz Church).”
On May 25, Bishop Pabillo issued a Pastoral Instruction entitled “We humble ourselves before God” to seek the faithful’s participation in the June 1 event and to inform all parishes to celebrate Mass in the afternoon “with the people pleading for forgiveness and healing of our land.”
The Day of Prayer and Fasting will be held as the Church starts its preparation for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11 and for the arrival of the 33rd Archbishop of Manila, His Eminence Jose F. Cardinal Advincula on June 24. (Lem Leal Santiago/SOCOM/Binondo Church)
