UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. has urged Thomasians to pause online classes for the praying of the 3 o’clock prayer and the Angelus prayers at 12 nn. and 6 p.m. daily.
“Classes or meetings are enjoined to pause at 12 nn. (Angelus), 3 p.m. (3 o’clock Prayer to the Divine Mercy) and 6 p.m. (Angelus) for these prayers,” he wrote in an Aug. 26 memorandum.
The said prayers should be followed by the Thomasian Prayer in Time of Pandemic, Coronel said.
The University has released the following prayer as part of its religious initiatives for the Thomasian community amid the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Together, let us pray the Thomasian Prayer in Time of Pandemic. pic.twitter.com/xIInhj3RCl
— The Varsitarian (@varsitarianust) September 4, 2021
UST will also hold several religious services and prayer initiatives to help the Thomasian community cope with the challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic and the emergence of new variants.
Coronel said he hoped the activities would gather Thomasians and make them pray as one community.
A “Holy Mass in Time of Pandemic” was held on Aug. 27, led by Coronel.
Novena Masses will be offered daily from Aug. 31 to Sept. 8 at 11 a.m. in UST’s “Nine Days of Prayer for Healing and Protection” initiative.
Starting Sept. 8, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the University will hold weekly Masses on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. for the intentions of the Thomasian community.
Prayer intentions may be submitted through this link. Cut-off for submissions is at 5 p.m. every Tuesday.
The “Healing Rosary for the Thomasian Community” will begin on Sept. 10, at 8 p.m.
All upcoming religious activities will be broadcast live via the Facebook pages of the University and the Santísimo Rosario Parish.
‘Pandemic wounds nothing to be ashamed of’
Coronel, during his homily for the Mass in Time of Pandemic on Aug. 27, called on the faithful to continue “believing, hoping and loving” amid the challenges brought about by the pandemic.
“We are on a journey. The teachers, support staff, academic staff, administrators… we are one. We are one Thomasian team—Team UST! We are moving to the academic front in spite of the difficulties,” he said.
“We are like soldiers fighting everyday. Please hold on to that faith, hope and love. The Lord is telling us to be strong,” he added.
The UST secretary general told Thomasians to “not be ashamed of the wounds” caused by the pandemic.
“We are not supposed to be afraid of the wounds, even the wounds caused by the pandemic…Ang mga sundalo daw kapag nakikipaglaban [at] nasusugatan lalo daw tumatapang. Pero tayong mga tagasunod ni Kristo, mga Tomasino, habang nasusugatan [at] kahit nasasaktan lalong nagmamahal,” Coronel said.
