The Diocese of Borongan, Philippines, held July 20 a Diocesan Day of Prayer and Fasting for deliverance from the Covid pandemic.

Priest of the diocese held a “penitential walk” from the Borongan Cathedral to the Rosary Garden of Our Lady of Borongan in the city’s Sabang district. They processed with a large crucifix and candles.

Another parish, The Parish of the Holy Child, held a penitential procession, with the priest carrying a wooden cross, and members of the faithful following him.

Finally, there was a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration, followed by Mass.

Fr. Jan Michael Gadicho, the Episcopal Vicar for Clergy the Diocese of Borongan, delivered the homily.

“Like the Israelites,” he said, “we badly need a miracle, deliverance from slavery. Worse than covid-19, as they say, is the virus of indifference, of greed, of discrimination, of dying hope …

We must not allow the pandemic, political turmoil, economic crisis, or any suffering destroy our true identity as a people of God. Maybe, just maybe, God allows suffering and evil to happen to remind us and help us recover our true identity as His people. Maybe God allows suffering to bring out the best in us.

Read more:Pope: From great trials, including the pandemic, we emerge either better or worse. What do you choose?