The Diocese of Greater Manila Area (IFI) followed without hesitation the Philippine Government health protocols in responding to the Covid19 pandemic lockdown for the entire Island of Luzon starting March 15, 2020. With no alternatives, various ways have been adopted to accommodate the spiritual needs of the parishioners of the Diocese.
The Rt. Rev. Salvador Ballesteros, diocesan bishop, opined, “The lockdown is somewhat unfair to the IFI which knows its members, unlike that of the Roman Catholic Church which has many church-goers but generally unknown to their clergy.” In response to the lockdown, dubbed as General Community Quarantine or GCQ, to minimize the rapid transmissions of the Covid19 Virus, the parishes and missions were ordered to stop the “face-to-face” celebration of the Holy Eucharist. For more than five months, the parishes and missions closed their portals and halted their religious services. But the Diocesan Cathedral and the parishes of Balingasa, Paco and Pasay resorted to innovative ways to celebrate the Holy Mass by live-streaming on the Internet. (See separate article on the live-streaming of the Holy Mass.) The Holy Eucharist celebration resumed in all churches beginning September 6th , with the government mandate of only 10% attendance and imposing the health protocols of face masks, face shields, and social distancing.
The financial implications of the lockdown posed as one of the biggest challenges to the diocesan leadership. With no church attendance and relying heavily on the members’ pledges and tithes, the parish and diocesan operational expenses could not be dispensed, including the priests’ stipends. Modern monetary transfer technology (GCash, PayMaya) was availed of, accompanied by appeals for support and assistance. However, with the poorer congregations with unemployed members, the innovative ways were futile.
Quick response prompted Bishop Buddy to provide immediate relief through monetary assistance of Php5,000 per priest (retired clergy included) sourced out from the diocesan buffer fund. Added blessings came from the generosity of a bag of rice with grocery items courtesy of Msgr. Manny Ballesteros and his friends and allies. The diocesan bishop himself accompanied by Fr. Severino Ismael distributed these blessings to the priests in their respective parishes and missions.
Virtual meetings were started to reach out to the clergy for updates on their personal and ministerial conditions. Every parish/mission was required to submit its plan of activities for the remaining months of 2020 to inform the diocesan leadership of its ongoing status.
For this year, all diocesan activities with mass gatherings or celebrations were cancelled. Excluded were the following: IFI proclamation anniversary, Double Ten, Christ the King, WOPIC thanksgiving, and DGMA program assessment/planning. Instead, the parishes and missions locally commemorated the IFI foundation day with the Holy Eucharist individually celebrated by the priest and the homily delivered by Bishop Buddy via live-streaming. Likewise, the Christ the King celebration might also be held in like manner.
The Worship, Education and Ministry (WEM) Committee was encouraged to design a webinar/seminar on Leadership Bodies Orientation (LBO) and other educational works in the diocese. Activities of the sectoral organizations would also be maximized with the use of internet/social media and other means of information technology.
The Concordat and Ecumenical Relations Team (CER) will continue to reach out to the IFI partners to strengthen the working relations with other Churches. The stress on the Central Office staff for this year is in the pursuit of Goals # 3 and 4 concerning the proposed activities of the CER. This national/diocesan program will also coincide with the celebration of the Roman Catholic Church’s Year of Ecumenism, Inter-Religious Dialogue and Indigenous Peoples.
The advocacy arm of the diocese (Witness and Service) will participate in the Abundant Life Program (ALP) initiated by the Central Office. This year the ALP has launched a campaign, “Our Commitment, Our Offering,” to support the 85 Lumad children and teachers beingcaught in the lockdown and housed at UP Diliman. This campaign calls for financial and material supports. Another program is the Workers Assistance Program (WAP) which needs further discussion and coordination. Above all, amidst this pandemic, parishes and missions are encouraged to source out materials and funds to help the most affected families.
The DGMA Website (dgma.ph), launched on February 22, 2020 during the Diocesan Convention at the diocesan cathedral, will publicly open with its maiden issue of news magazine. The technical and editorial group has been working hard to meet the standards of social media and meeting its projected deadline. The staff is comprised of: Bishop Buddy Ballesteros, publisher/editor-in-chief; Diocesan Council, editorial board; Msgr. Manny Ballesteros, managing editor; Revs. Dionito Cabillas and Vicky Esguerra, editorial staff; and the technical group composed of the Rev. Severino Ismael II, Glen Aranzanso, Manolito Gonzales, Joel Ballesteros, Albert Lopez, and Cesar Dumayag.
The diocesan pastoral ministry of healing/counselling and prayers for the Covid19 patients and frontliners and others afflicted with other ailments continues via the social media, and church and prayer partnerships.
The diocesan bishop has been involved in virtual meetings with the South-Central Luzon Bishops Conference (SCL). With the DGMA clergy, he continues to participate in social media seminars/webinars conducted by the Central Office, Office of the General Secretary, and the SCL. In the celebration of the Holy Eucharist of the 119 th IFI Proclamation Anniversary at the National Cathedral on August 3, 2020, Bishop Buddy served as the main celebrant upon the request of the OM Rhee Timbang. He acted as one of the reactors on two webinars of the SCL and as resource person in the AFP Chaplaincy program which reaches out to people.
The Rev. Dionito Cabillas, diocesan program coordinator, served as reactor twice in the Central Office’s webinar on history, August 3 and 26. He was a speaker on the “Forum about Political Prisoners” and the Prison Ministry of the IFI on September 14, 2020. Upon invitation of the Roman Catholic Church’s Radio Veritas, he was interviewed and discussed the IFI’s participation in ecumenism on August 6, 2020.
On the whereabouts of the DGMA clergy and their activities: Msgr. Manny Ballesteros on humanitarian concerns; Fr. Nixon Jose on theological education at ACTS via the internet and Seafarers chaplaincy; Rev. Erah Maga-Cabillas on ecumenical relations; Fr. Albert Dacera on clinical pastoral education; Fr. Severino Ismael on assisting the diocesan bishop as itinerant priest and diocesan financial courier; Rev. Sherryl Bianson, Fr. Ferdie Alvarez, Fr. Mon Verano, Fr. Orly Concepcion, Fr. Jun Juan and Fr. Fedelino Ofdi on facing the challenges of their respective congregations amidst the pandemic. Other clergy seniors like Bishop Warly Baldomero on actively using the internet due to pandemic restrictions; and Rev. Vicky Esguerra on rediscovering her “love” as editor for dgma.ph website. On the other hand, Bishop Greg delos Reyes and Bishop Vir Gallo are “locked up” happily and peacefully with their loved ones.
The DGMA through the leadership of the diocesan bishop will continue to find ways and means in coping amidst this pandemic. The clergy will continue to pray for our members as we seek supports of assistance in all possible ways as partners in the Vineyard of the Lord.
