Manila archdiocese to end collection of stipends

The apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila has announced that the public no longer have to pay for the administration of sacraments but donations are encouraged, according to a post on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.

“There will no longer be any fixed rates for the celebration of the sacraments of baptism and confirmation and for the offering of Mass intentions in the churches in the Archdiocese of Manila,” said Bishop Broderick Pabillo in a statement.

The abolition of the arancel or the system of charging fixed rates for sacraments will take effect on April 14, 2021 in the entire archdiocese, which is composed of 92 churches in the cities of Manila, Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong and San Juan.

“Donations from the faithful for the support of their church are encouraged,” Pabillo said.

The bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Manila, in 2017, issued a pastoral letter on stewardship aimed at ending the arancel system.

The issue was raised in January and bishops renewed their commitment in line with the celebration of the 500th year of the Christianity in the country.

“Let this be one of the legacies of our quincentennial celebration of the arrival of the Christian faith in our country,” Bishop Pabillo said. -- BAP, GMA News