MANILA — Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Peña said Friday that for the first time in many years, they will not hold a service at the St. Mary’s Cathedral this Holy Week as the church was damaged during the Marawi siege last year.
“First time in many years that we will not hold any service in the cathedral itself. But we have services in the parishes in the prelature. We continue the same service,” the Catholic bishop said on the sidelines of the launch of “Duyog Marawi” by the Aid to the Church in Need Philippines, a fund-raising campaign to help rebuild homes in the city.
He acknowledged that both members of the clergy and the faithful have been affected by the unfortunate incident that befell the city in May 2017.
There are a total of seven parishes in the area, including the damaged cathedral.
“Mindanao State University chaplaincy will be the focus. They take turns in looking after the spiritual welfare of students. We have five other parishes. All the priests are in their posts to serve people during the Holy Week,” the Marawi prelate said.
Only 5 percent of Marawi’s population are Roman Catholics.
The Cathedral was among the many structures and houses that were destroyed during the siege that began on May 23 last year.
On Oct. 23, President Rodrigo R. Duterte announced that government troops managed to recapture the city from the terrorist Maute Group.
The Holy Week starts on March 25 with Palm Sunday and culminates on Easter Sunday on April 1. (PNA)
