Catholics need to fill out forms before attending mass

Catholics who would attend Mass would have to fill-out forms, indicating their personal information when the government allows religious gathering under a modified general community quarantine.

The Diocese of Pasig issued an administrative decree on Monday stating the said requirement would be part of the “new normal” for conducting church masses.

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The accomplished personal information forms will be used for contact tracing to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in the Philippines.

The diocese asked the priests to tell the churchgoers to bring their own pens to avoid sharing and possible transmission of the disease.

“At the entrance doors of the church, they will be given a form, which they can bring [to the pews]. They will fill [out] the forms upon [sitting] in the pews, [giving their name, address, contact number, date and time of the Mass attended and seat number],” said Pasig Bishop Mylo Vergara.

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Catholics need to fill out forms before attending Mass

Those who will attend church could hand in the accomplished forms at the doors as they exit after Mass. Vergara added priests could also employ other ways of contact tracing fit in their parishes. 

Meanwhile, those attending Mass at the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan province would also be required to register before entering the church. 

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People going to Mass at the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan province will also be required to register before entering the church.

“We instituted more stringent measures … For instance, to aid potential contact tracing, we require Mass-goers to write [down their] name and contact number before [we allow them to enter the church],” the Dominican Community of the Priory of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag said in a letter.

The Diocese of Sorsogon also asked devotees to register at the doors and not change seats for easy tracing. 

Vergara said they would mark the pews in Pasig diocese with numbers and letters to utilize tracing. 

He added that such protocols would remain until COVID-19 became available. He also reminded those who are at high risk of acquiring the disease to continue watching the Mass from their homes. 

“They are encouraged to stay at home and watch Mass online,” he said.