SORSOGON PROVINCE – There seems to be no sparing for anyone to be affected by the Novel Coronavirus as the Diocese of Sorsogon issued a Diocesan COVID-19 Task Force statement today, June 11, 2021, that its first positive case among the clergies is Monsignor Felix Elegado Jr. parish priest of the St. Anthony de Padua Parish in Gubat, Sorsogon.
Bishop Jose Alan Dialogo sadly issued the statement in behalf of the task force saying that they are now in coordination and fully cooperating with LGU Gubat and its municipal health office. Instructions and directives were issued relative to the case of Msgr. Elegado on how to observe the necessary protocols with the situation.
The priest is now confined in one of the local hospitals here and doing fine. The diocese offered their prayers and solicitude with Mons. Jun and all of his close contact. It is also enjoining the clergies and the faithful to continue praying offering petitions for the resolution and end of this pandemic and implore the aid of Our Lady of Penafrancia for her mantle of protection.
In a related development, the Diocese issued Circular No. 9-2021 covering all of the clergy and the lay faithful of the Parish of St. Anthony de Padua in Gubat town for its coming town fiesta celebration COVID-19 prevention and isolation of individuals with direct contact with Monsignor Elegado with imposed directives and measures.
The rectory of the parish shall be placed in temporary closure until further notice from local health authorities. Those individuals with a close contact for more than 15 minutes and less than a meter even with a face masks from the monsignor are to go on self-isolation for 14 days from the day of the exposure. Those tested negative are still encourage to self-isolate for at least 10 days from the last day of exposure if asymptomatic during the quarantine period.
Novena mass and mass for the fiesta will be handled by visiting priest with the parish of St. Joseph in Barcelona given the task to assist in the celebration of the mass. To oversee the ministerial activities and needs of the parish Bishop Dialogo appointed Reverend Father Roger Joseph Erestain Jr.
The mass for the fiesta will be celebrated with limited priest co-celebrants from the Vicariate of Gubat and priest native of Gubat. All masses, celebration of sacraments. Other liturgical activities motorcades and procession are canceled except for funeral mass and scheduled weddings with the vicariate of St. Anthony of Padua to take care of the Sacramental need of the Parish of St. Anthony of Padua.
It also enjoined the clergies of the diocese to exercise extra precautions to observe the health and safety protocols for COVID-19.
The circular was signed by Bishop Jose Alan Dialogo D.D. as Bishop of the Diocese on the same date.
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