Parishes in the Archdiocese of Manila will need more young volunteers when religious services resume after the lifting of the “enhanced community quarantine” in the Philippine capital.
Bishop Broderick Pabillo, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, younger volunteers are needed because they are less susceptible to the new coronavirus disease.
“Many of our hardworking volunteers are already old, and are prohibited from going out of their homes,” said the prelate during his online Sunday Mass.
He said parishes are “adjusting” to make churches safe when the lockdown in Manila is lifted. “We will be looking for younger people to volunteer in the church,” said the bishop.
In a pastoral guidance he issued last week, Bishop Pabillo said parishes need younger people to volunteer as collectors, lay ministers, and ushers.
He said if elderly volunteers insist to serve “they may be allowed by proper warning and precautions,” adding that their time of service should be shortened to limit the possibility of exposure to the disease.
Bishop Pabillo said having more volunteers will also give priests time to pray and prepare their homilies.
“Priests are always busy with other things like canvassing cement for a construction, doing the budget of their office, or coordinating with the barangay,” he said.
“The priest is busy with a myriad of things to make the parish run because probably he is not able to delegate these activities,” added the bishop.
