TACLOBAN CITY (PNA) – Churchgoers at the St. Josemaria Escriva Mission Station in this city now have an option to physically be present during a Eucharistic celebration hear through a “drive-in mass.”
The drive-in mass in Apitong village here, called “Park and Attend the Mass”, is scheduled every Sunday at 6 p.m., according to mission station parish priest Rev. Fr. Kim Margallo.
“The drive-in mass is just an additional schedule of St. Josemaria Escriva Mission Station to accommodate those who cannot attend the mass inside the church due to immune compromise or those who are not qualified for QR (quick response) coding,” Margallo said in a statement on Tuesday.
He added that he may have another additional schedule for drive-in masses if more parishioners are not accommodated in the 6 p.m. mass.
Catholic churches in the city have already opened their doors for churchgoers who want to physically attend mass while strictly complying with minimum health protocols set by the Department of Health (DOH).
Handwashing, body temperature check, QR code scanning, wearing of face mask and physical distancing are among the requirements that parishioners need to be followed while attending mass inside a church.
Churches in the city also offer online masses for those who cannot attend the service.
Margallo added that he was thinking of doing it long ago but only implemented it now due to movement limitations due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Now is the right time since people are afraid to go to mass for the fear of close contact yet they are hungry for the message,” he added.
Margallo added that the parish still offers regular masses at 7 a.m.,10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. for walk-in churchgoers.