Philippine church shutdown before annual feast
The procession was cancelled for the second year running, with devotees not allowed to enter the church from Jan. 7, to Jan. 9, as an extra precaution, Badong said.
A Philippine church that is home to a centuries-old statue of Jesus Christ will shut its doors to devotees for three days leading to its annual feast as COVID-19 cases increase.
Father Douglas Badong, the parochial vicar of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, told a news conference on Wednesday.
He said that Roman Catholic Church would be closed after the government's COVID-19 task force decided a proposed plan for the celebration would not be effective in preventing a possible super-spreader event.
The Black Nazarene is a wooden statue of Jesus Christ crowned with thorns and bearing a cross.
Devotees believed the statue grant prayers and wish to the faithful.
Millions usually attend the country's largest annual procession honouring the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9.
During the event, the statue is paraded through the streets around the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in the district of Quiapo in Manila City.
The procession was cancelled for the second year running, with devotees not allowed to enter the church from Jan. 7, to Jan. 9, as an extra precaution, Badong said.
The church usually sees a surge of visitors as activities begin ahead of the main feast day.
"The doors of the church will be shut. There will be no physical masses.
"We encourage the devotees to go to mass online or go to a church near you,'' Badong said.
In a message to devotees, Badong said: "it is unfortunate that we will not be together in the holy mass on the day of the feast''.
"But I hope we can strengthen our faith in the Black Nazarene.''