The dioceses of Bacolod, San Carlos, and Kabankalan have suspended Sunday and daily worship services following concerns over the local spread of the coronavirus disease, or Covid-19. Based on a statement issued by Diocese of Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon, the decision was made in light of the government declaring a public health emergency, in addition to recommendations from the Negros chapter of the Philippine Association of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.
“In this regard, the celebration of Sunday and daily masses among parishes and chaplaincies all over the Diocese are suspended [starting March 15] until further notice,” the bishop stated.
Diocese of Kabankalan chancellor, Rev. Fr. Richard Lachica, made a similar statement, suspending masses across their diocese.
In order to serve the spiritual needs of the local faithful, some Diocese of Kabankalan parish churches hosted mass via livestream through their respective social media pages yesterday morning.
A similar holy mass by the Diocese of San Carlos was also livestreamed through social media and broadcast on local radio./DGB, WDJ