NOTRE DAME OF DADIANGAS UNIVERSITY

MARIST AVENUE, GENERAL SANTOS CITY, 9500.

RELIGIOUS GATHERING INTERUPTIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS OF ROMAN

CATHOLIC IN NEW NORMAL

(LEADER)
CABATINGAN, CHRISTIAN EZEKIEL B.

(MEMBERS)
STEPHEN, ARCEGA
ESTRELLAN, EDER SHAENA
DUCENA, JAN GAB
BALALA, KRISTOFFER JAN
GONZALES, RODELENE
ALMEDA, PATTY
CAWIT, MARJORIE
NAYRE, JAMAICA
JUSTONAL, WENDELL
MAYO, MARY KRIS
CALAMIAN, JOSH
MENDOZA, KRISTEN MAE
 RELIGIOUS GATHERING INTERUPTIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS OF ROMAN
CATHOLIC IN NEW NORMAL

RESEARCH ABSTRUCT

Like any other research, this study will aim to make every Roman Catholic abide

new normal rules and regulations in General Santos City Catholic Churches. Roman

Catholic Worshippers in the Philippines, specifically in General Santos City, adjusted to

a “new normal” as some United Methodist churches reopened after a strict community

quarantine was lifted in General Santos City. This research aim to know the

interruptions and adjustments of the Roman Catholic church in terms of the given

guidelines, rules and safety protocols by the Government Inter-Agency Task Force with

accordance of the (DOH) Department Of Health. This Research aim to know the actions

of the people specifically, the Roman Catholic, on what actions they make to follow the

given guidelines of the (DOH) Department of Health and the Government or they totally

ignore everything. This research The researchers have formed and idea to know the

deep and as relevant as possible adjustments by doing this research at home.

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CATHOLIC IN NEW NORMAL

I. INTRODUCTION

The modified general community quarantine means movement is allowed to return

to normal but mask wearing, physical distancing and other health protocols are

enforced. Gensan Catholic Churches expect marked changes on how they can express

their faith amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As of now, the Catholic faithful will have to

abide by certain rules as part of what have been described as the “New Normal” in

religious services. The Archdiocese of General Santos has already submitted proposals

to the government in Manila on how parishes will resume liturgical celebrations. The

proposed protocol for religious services will limit the number of people present, ensure

physical distancing, and require everyone in the congregation to wear face masks.

According to Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the archdiocese’s administrator, these measures

will be strictly implemented when current lockdown restrictions are lifted. A big change

is that only ‘simple’ weddings with few people will be allowed in all Catholic churches in

General Santos City this year, according to Bishop Pabillo. Wedding entourages will be

discouraged as part of temporary adjustments to be made “due to our extraordinary

situation.” Only the bride and the groom with one set of sponsors and the immediate

family will be allowed. There will be no best man and bridesmaid for the meantime.

Going online is the emerging trend not only for the Philippine Church but also for foreign

dioceses. What other changes are forthcoming in the Church amid the COVID-19

pandemic? With the fast changing landscape brought about by the deadly infection,

churches will have to be creative in getting the faithful to take part in liturgical

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CATHOLIC IN NEW NORMAL

celebrations. After all that has been said, the art of progress is to preserve order amid

change and to preserve change amid order.

II. BACKGROUND

The Researchers want to reach the Catholic People for them to be totally aware on

the Government rules as mandated by the Inter-Agency Task Force together with the

(DOH) Department of Health’s safety protocols to lessen the positive cases of New

Variant Covid-19 and help to finish this Global Pandemic as soon as possible. This

study will lead a better understanding on what to do accordingly to what is being

implemented by the full force of the Government, IATF, and Department of Health for

the management of emerging infectious disease resolutions in all Catholic Churches in

General Santos City. This research will help the said Catholic people in General Santos

City to abide and strictly yet wisely follow the rules not only for their own safety but for

the safety of other’s when they enter down to leave the chapel and also to lessen the

increasing cases of COVID-19 virus.

 RELIGIOUS GATHERING INTERUPTIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS OF ROMAN
CATHOLIC IN NEW NORMAL

IV. METHODOLOGY

The Researchers distributed questionnaires containing (5) Five questions and

collected answers in (50) Fifty Catholic Respondents through Google Forms.

1. Which do you prefer, virtual mass or actual mass?

2. During the new normal, whenever you attend Actual Masses, what safety gears are

you wearing to prevent harming yourself from the new variant virus, Covid19?

3. What safety protocols do you observed when attending actual masses?

4. Do you think that all the people who attended the mass follows the Safety Protocols

set by the Government Officials?

5. Does infrequent attendance lead to lower devotion among Catholic?

6. Is a digital relationship with Christianity enough?

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CATHOLIC IN NEW NORMAL

7. Will you continue offering online worship?

8. Should you be investing in new digital equipment right now?

V. RESULTS

The Researchers make sure that the result they get from the respondents will

never turn into favor or bias. The Researchers got (50) Fifty different answers from (50)

Fifty different Catholic Respondents that may supply to make a concrete image and

prove that Catholic People are abiding and follow the Government Rules with

accordance to Department of Health’s given Safety Protocols.

For the 1st question, the Researchers got (46) Forty six who answered they prefer to

stay at home and watch Virtual Masses. While (4) of them would prefer to go to

churches and attend Actual Masses.

Virtual Mass Actual Mass

46 4

For the 2nd question, the Researchers got the consistent answers from the (4) Four

respondents who answered “They prefer to go to church and have their Actual Mass”.

They are all wearing Face Masks and Face Shields. Since it is mandatory to all Catholic

Church in General Santos City before you can pass and enter to the gate, there would

be a security guard checking if you have those mentioned Safety Gears.

Face Masks Face Shields

4 4
 RELIGIOUS GATHERING INTERUPTIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS OF ROMAN
CATHOLIC IN NEW NORMAL

For the 3rd question, the (4) Four Respondents consistently answered “1 Meter

Distance, All people are wearing Face shields and Face Masks.”

1 Meter Distance All People Wearing FS All People Wearing FM

4 4 4

For the 4th question, all of the (50) respondents answered YES, it means they followed

the safety protocols set by the Government Officials in the church.

For the 5th question, out of (50) Fifty respondents, only (1) respondent answered NO

and (49) Forty Nine Respondents answered YES. It means only (1) one Respondent

have agreed that frequent attendance on masses could lead into lower devotion among

Catholic. But the rest disagreed into that statement.

For the 6th question, the (50) Fifty Respondents agreed that Digital Relationship with

Christianity is enough.

For the 7th question, the (50) Fifty Respondents agreed that they will continue offering

online worship.

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CATHOLIC IN NEW NORMAL

For the 8th question, the (50) Fifty Respondents answered NO. They are all disagree on

buying new equipment for new normal masses.

Here is the result of online survey through Google Form that Researchers have

created and distributed.

 RELIGIOUS GATHERING INTERUPTIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS OF ROMAN
CATHOLIC IN NEW NORMAL

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CATHOLIC IN NEW NORMAL

VI. CONCLUSION

The Research Title “RELIGIOUS GATHERING INTERUPTIONS AND

ADJUSTMENTS OF ROMAN CATHOLIC IN NEW NORMAL” have proved that even in

the middle of pandemic, all people will tend to praise and worship God no matter what.

Even though not all of Catholic can attend Actual Masses, still, there is a chance to

attend and listen to the gospel through attending Virtual Masses as we have a lot of

resources nowadays. This Research proved how Filipinos are fighting Covid19 wholly,

by the help of the Government decisions with accordance to the Department of Health’s

Safety Protocols down to the people that are living in the Philippines especially the

Mindanaoans, they are helping by attending Masses wearing safety gears the Face

Shields and Face Masks. This study proved that no matter how hard the situation will

be, whether it is between Life and Death situation, not only the Catholic but all people,

will choose and only choose to give thanks to God and Glorify His name. This study just

proved that there is always a way on how to make things possible, and we can only

make possible things if we will make a way and put an actions to accomplish everything.
 RELIGIOUS GATHERING INTERUPTIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS OF ROMAN
CATHOLIC IN NEW NORMAL

VII. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The researchers are very grateful to God and the respondents that helped us to

make this research successful. The researchers want to acknowledge the people who

provided their time to help, contribute, support and cooperation to make the study

successful. For the researcher’s families who understood what they were doing and

helped them by motivating the researchers.

The Researchers wish to show their appreciation to their parents who are there

to support them in all aspects.

The Researchers would like to thank each and every member by providing

details contributing for the necessary information and helping each other to successfully

accomplish the study.

The assistance provided by Ms. Hannah Mae Acuña was greatly appreciated as

we enable to explore and know what are the possible solutions in solving some certain

problems in our communities.

The Researchers wish to extend their special thanks to the people who answered

their given questions as it led them to conclude what are the necessary information and

solutions to be consider in making the study.

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CATHOLIC IN NEW NORMAL

RESEARCH REFFERENCE/S;

Hilario, E. M. (2020, October). Church Prepares For New Normal: Filipino Catholics can
expect marked changes in how they can express their faith amid the COVID-19
pandemic. https://philippines.licas.news/2020/05/15/church-prepares-for-new-normal/

Mayzenburg, A. (2020, September) Accepting and Adapting to a New Normal

https://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/student-life/blog/accepting-and-
adapting-new-normal-school/

Castillo, F., Biana, H., Joaquin, J. (2021, February) ChurchInAction: the role of religious
interventions in times of COVID-19. Journal of Public Health, Volume 42, Issue 3,
September 2020, Pages 633–634.
https://academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/article/42/3/633/5856780