For the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic in March 2020, the city government will allow the physical holding of Lenten activities in Roman Catholic churches here.

Karla Henry, spokesperson of Mayor Michael Rama, said on Friday the mayor approves the return of different religious events which may generate huge crowds during the Holy Week, after two years of having those celebrations through social media and other online platforms.

“After physical Holy Week activities were banned in the last two years due to pandemic-induced quarantine restrictions, key Lenten events are making a comeback this year,” Henry said in a briefing at the Cebu City Hall.

Henry announced that the week-long Lenten activities will start on Sunday through a blessing of the new “Via Crucis”, or Stations of the Cross standies that will be placed on the whole stretch of V. Rama Ave.

Residents who are planning to recite prayers through the Stations of the Cross may do so at the V. Rama Ave., instead of going to faraway places during the observance of the Lent.

Catholic faithful, as well as local and foreign travelers, will start seeing the tableau –motionless figures representing every scene of the Stations of the Cross– at noon time on Good Friday after the “Buhing Kalbaryo” (living calvary).

The supposed annual holding of Buhing Kalbaryo which was stopped at the height of the pandemic in 2020 will also see its comeback on Good Friday.

This activity is a street play depicting the Passion of Christ that has become a Lenten tradition in this capital city.

The street play which will be mixed with stage presentation of Jesus’ agony at the patio of the Archdiocesan Shrine of San Nicolas de Tolentino in the morning of Good Friday is expected to generate spectators who want to witness physical holding of religious events used to be prohibited by protocols due to Covd-19 surges in two straight years.

The reenactment of Jesus’ crucifixion, his seven last words, and his death will be staged at the Espina compound next Friday.

Rama gave the go signal for traditional Lenten activities to resume as Covid-19 cases in the city continue to be low and more residents are now vaccinated.

On Thursday, the Department of Health (DOH) in Central Visayas recorded only one new Covid-19 case.

“Preparations are now ongoing particularly in ensuring crowd control in these events and the observance of the minimum health protocols,” Henry said, as she urged Cebuanos to remain vigilant as the mayor’s open policy should be taken with shared responsibility among all sectors. (PNA)