Catholic priest сelebrates feast-day Mass in flooded church in Philippines

Catholic priest celebrates Mass while standing knee-deep in water. Photo: Inquirer.net

Catholic priest Christian Rey Cayanan celebrated a feast-day Mass while standing knee-deep in water inside the flooded San Roque Chapel in the Philippines. Local residents insisted that the service for the chapel’s patronal feast go ahead despite severe flooding, Inquirer.net reports.

Organizers prepared the chapel in Sitio Escundo several hours before the service. But just minutes before the Liturgy was due to begin, floodwaters rushed into the building and rose as high as the church pews. Because prolonged bad weather on the island of Luzon had already forced the faithful to cancel all other festivities, the community decided to hold the service even in the flooded chapel.

“I cannot deny that this became one of the saddest experiences of my life, but at the same time it carried a profound meaning,” Fr Christian Rey Cayanan said. “I could barely hold back my tears as I saw the people’s suffering – and their smiles.”

According to the priest, the parishioners have long been accustomed to a constant struggle for survival and accepted the difficult situation with humility.

San Agustin-Kaingin Parish oversees the chapel. The priest expressed hope that conditions would improve in the future and that society would not forget the needs of its poorest citizens. He stressed that many other clergy and laypeople regularly brave floodwaters to help affected communities.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Catholic Church in the Philippines is building Asia’s first exorcism center.

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