The Manila Cathedral is blessing cremated remains starting Sunday in observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
The Manila Cathedral said that it will hold the “Rite of Blessing of Cremated Remains” after each Sunday Mass until Nov. 8.
“The family may bring the urn and a picture of their beloved dead, and we will celebrate a worthy liturgical blessing for them,” it said in an advisory.
“This is in response to the call of Bishop Broderick Pabillo to make our churches welcome places of prayer and consolation specially for families who lost a loved one in this time of pandemic,” it added.
Recently, the cathedral also announced that its Blessed Souls Chapel will be open for a month – Oct. 1 to Nov. 9 – where the public can offer prayers for their departed loved ones in commemoration of Undas.
“Mass intentions for the souls of the faithful departed can be offered in front of the marble relief of Mary, Refuge of Sinners. You can also light votive candles for our beloved dead in front of the exact replica of Michaelangelo’s Pietá,” it said.
Last month, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) ordered the closure of all private and public cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbariums nationwide from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4 to prevent mass gatherings that may lead to the further transmission of the coronavirus disease. (Analou de Vera)
