With the first week of General Community Quarantine (GCQ) in effect in Metro Manila (as of June 1, 2020), a sense of normalcy is gradually returning: salons will open again on June 7, EDSA traffic is back, and yes, you can go to church again—but with a little extra effort.
reportr visited Quiapo Church during its First Friday Mass on June 5, 2020 and captured snapshots of what will be the new normal for churchgoers. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) released guidelines for liturgical celebrations under the "new normal," and these include the following, among others:
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 Anyone below 21 years old, those 60 years old and above, or those with health risks/are pregnant should stay at home. This is in accordance with the IATF-EID guidelines (Inter-Agency Task Force For The Management Of Emerging Infectious Diseases).
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Everyone should wear masks, including the attendees, priests, and lay ministers. The CBCP guidelines stated, however, that the priest should not wear a mask or gloves during the celebration of the Mass. "Instead, he should remain more than 1 meter from the congregation during the Mass. In such circumstances, there is no substantial risk of infection."
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Strict social distancing will be observed, with the help of pew markers.
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Thermal scanning, foot baths, and hand sanitizers should be available.
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Holy Communion will only be distributed via hands.
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People should not hold hands during "The Lord's Prayer" and Sign of Peace.
For more information, visit "Recommendations and Guidelines For The Liturgical Celebration In 'New Normal' Condition."
View our exclusive photos below for a visual interpretation of some of the abovementioned guidelines:
