Despite the prohibition on religious gatherings in the National Capital Region (NCR) and other areas, the Archdiocese of Manila said it will have religious worship within 10 percent of the maximum church capacity starting March 24.

"It is sad that we will again be physically limited during the holiest days of the year for us. We follow the minimum standards of the health protocols but we continue to pray and worship the Lord," Archdiocese of Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo said in his pastoral instruction released on Tuesday, March 23.

"We will not have any religious activity outside of our churches such as senakulo, pabasa, processions, motorcades, and visita iglesia. But within our churches starting March 24 we will have our religious worship within 10% of our maximum church capacity,"  he added.

"Let the worshippers be spread apart within our churches, using the health protocols that we have been so consistently implementing," Pabillo said.

In a separate interview with church-run Radio Veritas, the prelate said the Inter Agency Task Force violated the separation of church and state when it prohibited religious gathering for two weeks without consultation.

"They are wrong, and we should not follow such policies that didn't go through consultation. It somehow breaks the separation of Church and State," said Pabillo.

"We should speak out and we believe religious services are essential services. They may not be essential economically, but they are very essential to our well-being,” he added.

Still, Pabillo in his pastoral instructions urged the faithful to join the Holy Week activities online.  

"On Holy Thursday morning I invite all to join in the online Archdiocesan Way of the Cross at 8 a.m. to be covered by TV Maria, Radio Veritas, and the online platforms of our parish social communications," he said.

"On Good Friday the parishes can organize their own online Way of the Cross and reflections on the Seven Last Words of Jesus. Let each one of us spend this day in sober prayer and fasting, meditating on the love of God for us as he offers his Son so that we may live and not perish," added Pabillo.

"On Easter Sunday, we will join the whole country in opening the 500 years of the coming of Christianity. We will start with the opening of the Holy Door at the Manila Cathedral at 10 a.m. I ask you all to join online in this celebration," he said.

Pabillo issued this reminder to the faithful:"Even in our homes, through our online participation, we can worship God."