Daily novena masses for Fiesta Señor start in Cebu City
Manila Bulletin – January 8, 2021, 2:08 PM
CEBU CITY – The 456th Fiesta Señor officially kicked off Friday, January 8, with the holding of the first of nine novena masses at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño.
A leaner crowd was noted at the Basilica due to the strict health protocols that were enforced.
“The first day was peaceful and orderly. We have the police, medical teams and disaster’s office personnel,” said City Councilor Dave Tumulak.
An estimated 3,000 devotees attended the first day of the series of dawn masses.
“Supposedly, the pilgrim center can accommodate up to 6,000 people but we only had about 1,500 today and another 1,500 around the vicinity of the Basilica,” said Tumulak.
Marked chairs were put up in the pilgrim center. There were also markings in and out the Basilica indicating where a churchgoer should stay to ensure that physical distancing is observed.
“We have lesser crowd because of the pandemic, and the city government likewise asked the public to just watch the mass in their homes through social media streaming to prevent overcrowding,” Tumulak added.
Only those with face masks, face shields and quarantine passes were allowed to enter the Basilica.
Non-Cebu City residents were also asked to present their quarantine passes issued by their respective local government units.
The church will be off limits for an hour after every mass for disinfection.
“We are asking the devotees to be more patient. We have to conduct disinfection after every mass to see to it that the marked chairs are safe to use for the next users,” said Tumulak.
SOURCE: https://mb.com.ph/2021/01/08/daily-novena-masses-for-fiesta-senor-start-in-cebu-city/?fbclid=IwAR3NBwwdppxeKJ5jpWTD9OA1y6TpNjwlUbRo511WrBTwgFUppawOkIqtEmI
