KUCHING: The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) has allowed churches in Sarawak to open during the Holy Week under strict standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Association of Churches Sarawak (ACS) chairman Archbishop Simon Poh, said that as stated by Unifor in its administrative notice, churches in the orange and red zones are to remain closed to the public, but for the Holy Week starting from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, they are allowed to hold services for up to a maximum of 20 assigned persons only.
He said for churches in the green and yellow zones, they are allowed to be opened with up to 50 percent capacity with at least one metre of physical distancing
“I am grateful to Unifor for getting the approval from SDMC to allow churches in red and orange zones to be open for Masses or services of 20 assigned church leaders to conduct Holy Week.
“Holy Week is our most sacred week and I understand that as many of our churches are actually in red and orange zones, Masses and service with 20 persons are a concession to allow for Christians to celebrate Palm Sunday, the Lord’s Supper on Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday,” he said.
He said though congregation in churches is not allowed in red or orange zones, the designated 20 church leaders will represent the people to pray and intercede before God during this sacred Holy Week for all people in Sarawak, the nation and the world during this global pandemic.
“On behalf of ACS church leaders, I take this opportunity to bring the greetings, peace and blessing of Holy Week and Easter to all Christians and people of goodwill,” he said.
He also urged all churches that are holding Masses and services to give full compliance to safety SOPs to ensure that Covid-19 is contained in Sarawak.
In the Unifor administrative notice for the Holy Week, it stated that all religious activities in all zones are not to exceed 10pm except for the Easter Vigil (12 midnight).
Christians will observe the Holy Week starting with the Palm Sunday on Mar 28.
