By Leslie Ann Aquino
"This Lent, we will not cancel the masses, but we will implement precautionary measures,"Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David told church-run Radyo Veritas, Monday.
Bishop Pablo Virgilio David (CBCP / MANILA BULLETIN)
Catholics will usher in the observance of Lent on February 26, Ash Wednesday.
During Ash Wednesday, Catholics have their foreheads marked with ashes as a sign of penance.
As a precautionary measure, the vice president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said the ashes may just be sprinkled on the head of the faithful instead of placing them on the forehead.
David said the placing of holy water at the church's entrance is also not being recommended at this time.
Instead, he said the faithful should just wait for the priest to bless them with holy water.
Catholic officials in Hong Kong earlier announced the suspension of public masses on Sundays and weekdays for two weeks and the cancellation of the liturgy of Ash Wednesday amid the COVID-19.
The Archdiocese of Singapore also suspended public masses indefinitely.