Catholics, Muslims join in prayer vs pandemic

MANILA, Philippines — The nationwide observance of Holy Wednesday yesterday was not what Filipinos have been used to, but amid a lingering health crisis, its aim could not have been more timely: solidarity.

Various religious groups across the country united in an online inter-faith prayer for health workers and other frontliners and for the healing of the nation from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Before the prayer proper, dubbed “Buklurang Panalangin ng Pagkakaisa Para Sugpuin ang COVID-19,” a Qur’an and a Bible were displayed on a podium, followed by church bells simultaneously pealing nationwide.

A Facebook page, Dominus Est., said chaplains, priests, pastors and Ai’mah of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also joined in the pealing of bells and in the prayers.

Live-streamed on the official Facebook page of government-run PTV starting at 3 p.m. yesterday, the inter-faith prayer saw a Muslim imam, a Catholic priest, a Protestant and an Aglipayan, among others, reading their respective prayers.

Shortly after reading verses in the Qur’an and in the Bible, representatives from various groups read prayers for healthcare frontliners, for the Philippine National Police (PNP) and AFP, and for those afflicted with COVID-19.

The groups comprising various religions prayed for the safety of the frontliners – to spare them from getting infected with the coronavirus and to give them knowledge and wisdom to come up with the treatment for COVID-19.

The groups also prayed to spare from harm and to protect PNP, AFP and other security officers working double time in maintaining peace and order in the country amid the extended enhanced community quarantine.