MANILA (UCAN): Quiapo Church, home to the shrine of the revered Black Nazarene image of Jesus, set up a memorial wall where people can write the names of loved ones and friends who have died from Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2). Its priests will pray for all those whose names are written on the wall.
The move followed a call a day earlier by Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, for priests to remember the nearly 20,000 people who have died from Covid-19 and their families, during Masses.
As of May 10, the Philippines had recorded 1,108,826 Covid-19 coronavirus cases, with 18,562 deaths.
“As pastors, we priests always carry with us the grief and pains of our people, and the joys and their hopes. Let us bring them to God,” Bishop Pabillo said when making the call during a homily on May 9.
He said that for Christians, death is not the end but only the beginning to eternal life.
“We pray for the eternal repose of our beloved dead … believing that the Lord will bring them to another and better life and better world,” the bishop added.
Priests at Quiapo Church, also known as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, said a memorial wall was a fitting response.
‘I posted a family picture on the wall. It is good to be reminded of the times when we were still complete. Before the pandemic, we never imagined we would be separated this soon. Now my father is gone’
Norlyn Esteban
“People can write the names of those who died during the pandemic and we will pray for them in our Masses here in the church,” Father Douglas Badong, the parochial vicar, told Radio Veritas.
Father Badong also said the parish had launched a three-day prayer marathon for the end of the pandemic with a specific intention for each day—for health workers, patients and for good governance.
People may also post pictures and other items on the wall in memory of their loved ones.
“I posted a family picture on the wall. It is good to be reminded of the times when we were still complete. Before the pandemic, we never imagined we would be separated this soon. Now my father is gone,” said Norlyn Esteban.
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Other churches and parishes in the city were set to follow Quiapo Church’s lead while others opted for a virtual tribute instead.
The Annunciation parish in Quezon City posted a link where people could enter the names of loved ones so that priests can pray for them.
“Here in the Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish, we do not have a memorial wall but we have an online register instead. We also read the names of the dead before every Mass,” a resident, Roger Jesalva, explained.
