Celebrating Holy Week Online

From drive-through confessions, where a priest - seated a meter away - hears a parishioner confess his sins while inside his car, to receiving holy communion in front yards, the Catholic Church has found innovative ways to engage its flock in prayer and participate in church activities amid the worldwide spread of the novel corona virus (Covid-19) which necessitates everybody to practice physical distancing, among other things.

Filipinos, as well as most people of the world, will still be staying at home under enhanced community quarantine as we observe the Holy Week, starting Palm Sunday, April 5 until Easter Sunday, April 12. But everybody will be blessed, Pope Francis said. And Holy Week will be celebrated online, with masses to be livestreamed on Facebook and Youtube by various dioceses across the country.At the Vatican City, the Pope celebrates daily masses at 2pm at Vatican News English on YouTube.

Following is the schedule of masses in various Philippine churches:

Manila Cathedral

Time: Sunday - 8am,10am, 6pm; Monday to Friday - 7:30am, 12:10pm; Saturday - 7:30am

Where: Manila Cathedral's Facebook page

Quiapo Church

Time: Daily - 5am, 6am, 12:15pm, 3pm, 4pm

Where: Quiapo Church's Facebook page

Diocese of Kalookan

Time: Sunday - 6:30am, 7:45am, 9am, 10:15am, 3pm, 4:15pm, 5:30pm, 6:45pm, 8pm; Monday to Friday - 6am, 12nn, 6pm

Where: Diocese of Kalookan's Facebook page

Diocese of Cubao

Time: Sunday - 8am, 11am, 6pm; Monday to Saturday - 8am

Where: Diocese of Cubao's Facebook page

Diocese of Pasig

Time: Sunday - 6am, 7:30am, 9am, 4pm, 6pm; Monday to Saturday - 6am, 8am, 12nn, 6pm

Where: Pasig Cathedral's Facebook page

Philippine Jesuits

Time: Daily - 8am, 1pm

Where: Radyo Katipunan Facebook page and Radyo Katipunan YouTube channel

Radio Veritas

Time: Daily - 6am, 12nn, 6pm

Where: Radio Veritas' Facebook page

Sambuhay TV Mass

Time: Saturday (anticipated mass) - 5pm; Monday to Friday - 6:15am

Where: Sambuhay's Facebook page

Online masses led by Singapore Archbishop William Goh

Time: Sunday - 10am; Monday to Saturday - 1pm

Where: Archdiocese of Singapore's YouTube channel

PLDT's free speedboost for Fibr subscribers will provide a unique holy week experience in the time of COVID-19. Staying at home as we pray with people online can be our most meaningful contribution in stopping the spread of the dreaded coronavirus.