MANILA – The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, commonly known as the Manila Cathedral, is opening its Blessed Souls Chapel for over a month to the public starting Thursday, for the commemoration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
“From Oct. 1 to Nov. 9, the Blessed Souls Chapel inside the Manila Cathedral dedicated for prayers for the departed will be open to the public,” the basilica said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
The public can offer prayers for their dearly departed since cemeteries are ordered closed during the “Undas”.
“This is a response to Bishop Broderick Pabillo’s call to make our churches welcome places of prayer and consolation as cemeteries will be closed during the time of Undas. Mass intentions for the souls of the faithful departed can be offered in front of the marble relief of Mary, Refuge of Sinners,” it added.
The faithful can also light candles for their departed loved ones.
“You can also light votive candles for our beloved dead in front of the exact replica of Michaelangelo’s Pietá,” it added.
The government earlier announced that all public and private cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbariums in the county would be closed from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4, to prevent mass gatherings amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Various local government units, meanwhile, have allowed people to visit their departed loved ones before and after these dates and allowed limited visitor capacity in these places.