For months now, the world has suffered from the pangs of COVID-19 pandemic. The virus has never weakened so far as it gets more infections in difference parts of the world. Many people have lost their lives. Many are still in the hospitals and secured facilities for their recovery and other medical procedures. It seems the whole world has bent down to its knees as it continues to battle with the pandemic.
March of this year, the Philippine government imposed an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon which effectively directed to a total lockdown, restricting the movement of the people except for necessary work and health concerns. Additional restrictions also mandated the temporary closure of non-essential shops and businesses and restricting gatherings including Church celebrations.
The Church has never run out of time with regard to celebrations. During the Marcos Martial Law, the Church stood still. It has surpassed its cruelty and the inhuman conditions in Philippine history during the martial law. The many other events which somehow challenged and affected our country have not stopped the Church. But this time, it’s different.
This pandemic has totally changed and challenged the Church. How should it be celebrated? How should it be understood? What is the real essence of being a Church? These are some questions we have tried to answer in silence and humility.
So how does the Church looks at the advent of this pandemic? Well, the Church remained true to its vocation in fulfilling the salvific plan of God. The rituals are given more depth and the emphasis goes beyond pure rituals.
Like many church goers, the Christian celebrations are well sought of by many believers. Now, more than ever, the Church with its sacraments as channels of God’s graces receive more appreciation and somehow becomes a necessity. Right. The many negative effects of pandemic which includes psychological, economic, social, mental and spiritual imbalances has brought the Church to its rightful place. Many people have suffered from this pandemic. For some, the pandemic might be a passing phenomenon but in reality, we know that the effects of this will be felt more strongly in the coming days or months.
The Church’s mission to proclaim the Gospel through service and care for its flock remains a crucial role as it faces a new socio-cultural and economic situation. That is why many dioceses, churches, including individual efforts to address the pressing issues of today took the necessary initiatives. Some Churches started helping the poor who are greatly affected by the pandemic in a larger scale. Some priests and parishes have initiated social and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs such as regular feeding program, distributing goods to the poor communities and families, etc. Some Church-owned institutions created centers for families and students who are suffering from poverty due to lack of resources and unemployment.
In Caloocan City, the Grace Park parish owned by the OMIs started an environmental program through domestic gardening. The program aims to encourage and teach communities to grow their own food through backyard gardening. Through the program, people will now have easy access to food not depending so much on other people’s support. With these efforts, we see that the Church who is also affected by this pandemic never compromised its mission.
But the question remains, how will the Church sustain in its efforts in building the Church of God? The answer is the same: as long as there are people who are in need, when there are people who are in difficulty, oppressed, marginalized, poor, the Church will always remain.
Maybe this pandemic has brought us to tears and pains, deaths and sickness, but we, as the Church, the people of God will always bear in our hearts our mission towards those in need. May this pandemic not bring us to unbelief but to greater faith, hope and love.
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