By Leslie Ann Aquino
Couples planning an elaborate wedding, take note.
(PIXABAY / MANILA BULLETIN)
The Archdiocese of Manila said it will only allow simple weddings this year.
"We allow only simple weddings this year, with only the bride and the groom with one set of sponsors and the immediate family. Wala na munang mga abay (No best man and bridesmaid for the meantime)," Bishop Broderick Pabillo, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, said in the protocol for religious services in the archdiocese.
To note, June is considered a wedding month in the Philippines.
Even in baptism, the archdiocese also limited the number of participants.
"Only the parents and one set of godparents will be allowed per child for the baptism," read the protocol.
The same goes for funeral Masses.
"Only the immediate family is allowed during funeral Masses in the church observing proper social distancing," the protocol read.
As for confirmations, Pabillo said they will allow the foregoing of Mass confirmation for the year.
He said those who are to be baptized as adults or who are to get married can be confirmed by the parish priest as church discipline dictates.
The archdiocese released the protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) even after the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
"These guidelines are given due to our extraordinary situation. They are therefore temporary in nature. Furthermore, the situation is so fluid that we foresee that there will be other guidelines that will follow when the situation changes or when there are other directives that will come from the government or from the church hierarchy," said Pabillo.
"These guidelines are given so that we are prepared when religious services will already be allowed," he added.