By Leslie Ann Aquino
Church bells will simultaneously peal on Holy Wednesday, April 8, at 3 p.m. to signify the start of a televised interfaith prayer.
Archbishop Romulo Valles, CBCP President. (CBCP FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines President Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles endorsed the ringing of parish church bells to the bishops. This is in response to the request of the Philippine Government led by the Inter Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID).
"It will be comforting and encouraging for our people when they sense and observe that a spirit of unity and working together is there in these trying times," read Valles' circular letter addressed to bishops and diocesan administrators.
Last April 6, Military Ordinariate Bishop Oscar Florencio sent a letter to Valles regarding the initiative. Below is the letter.
"I respectfully make representation to request, Your Excellency, to exhort all the Bishops of the CBCP that all Parish Churches of the entire archipelago will ring their bells in their belfries at 3 o'clock in the afternoon on April 8, 2020, a Holy Wednesday, to signal the start of the televised Interfaith Prayer.
The Philippine Government, led by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID), initiated to conduct this interfaith prayer dubbed as “BUKLURANG PANALANGIN NG PAGKAKAISA PARA SUGPUIN ANG COVID-19."
In this endeavor, the AFP Chaplains (Priests, Pastors, and Allah) will assist to invoke the mighty help of God as we plead Him to heal those affected by COVID-19 and to spare us from this present pandemic.
May the suffering-servant of Yahweh, Jesus, our Miracle-Worker, our Wounded Healer listen to our humble supplications in this time of our dire need for His mercy.
I look forward to your favorable paternal consideration on this humble plea."