CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: All catholic masses in Misamis Oriental are suspended until April 15, Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, head of the predominantly Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Misamis Oriental announced Wednesday.
Msgr. Perseus P. Cabunoc, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Misamis Oriental, made the announcement in an interview with the local radio station here.
He said that the suspension or cancellation of the masses is effective immediately until April 15, 2020.
Ledesma’s order is in compliance with the directive of the government and the health department to prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus, Cabunoc said.
According to Cabunoc, except for the small doors of the big churches, the main entrance is closed.
“We are opening two small entrances to allow those who want to privately pray inside the Church,” Cabunoc said.
He said private masses in small chapels within the major Churches (Cathedrals) are allowed for priests and acolytes only.
Cabunoc said that private masses of a small group of people numbering only about 30 to 40 parishioners are also allowed, but would strictly follow the “social distancing” scheme.
He said that the cancellation of the masses also included the masses of the island province of Camiguin and Malitbog, a municipal town of the province of Bukidnon.
The Archdiocese of Misamis Oriental covers 62 parishes and a Roman Catholic population of over 1 million or 75 per cent of the total population of the areas covered.
