San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila.
MANILA, Philippines — The San Agustin Church (Church of the Immaculate Conception of San Agustin) in the historic Walled city of Intramuros was locked down on Sunday after its parish priest succumbed to COVID-19.
Fr. Arnold Sta. Maria Cañoza died due COVID-19 on Sunday, his religious order announced. He was 45.
“San Agustin Church and Convento de San Agustin Intramuros WILL BE ON LOCKDOWN STARTING TODAY (21 March). Access to the church and convent will be restricted, and operations at the Parish Office will also be suspended until further notice,” the Archdiocesan Shrine of N.S. de la Consolacion y Correa – San Agustin Church announced on Facebook.
“These recent developments are due to the death of our dear parish priest…from COVID-19. We ask for your understanding and prayers,” it added.
Fr. Cañoza, according to the Agustinian Vicariate of the Orient, has been “a professed religious in the Order for 14 years.”
“He first professed his vows on 01 June 2006 and made his solemn profession on 5 February 2011,” it said in a Facebook post.
“We commend him to your prayers and request the celebration of masses for his eternal rest, as established in the Constitutions of the Order (n.101) and the Statutes of the Augustinian Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus of the Philippines (n.20),” it added.