CBCP launches Catholic smartphone app

A new smartphone application application for Catholics was launched on Wednesday, according to a post on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.

Through Faith Watch, which is available for Android phones and IOS devices, the people can check mass schedules, bible readings of the day, CBCP News, among others.

CBCP President and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao said the smartphone application is a gift to the Church amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"(The pandemic) badly hampered our regular and normal ways and channels of catechesis and evangelization," he said.

Public masses, religious events were cancelled due to the hike in COVID-19 cases in the country.

Valles noted that many dioceses and parishes accessed the internet to maintain communication with the people.

"I am quite sure that we all consider this (Faith Watch app) as another big help, as another gift as it were for our use as we continue to meet the many challenges of the task of the new evangelization and missio ad gentes," Valles was quoted as saying.

The smartphone app is a project of the CBCP Media office in collaboration with Areopagus Communications, Inc. and Heart of Francis Foundation.

Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit of Boac, CBCP Commission on Social Communications head, encouraged the people to download and share the app, which he described as “very useful, practical, convenient, and timely”.

“Life goes on for all of us in spite of this pandemic. We are just living in this world of changes, and with these changes are the opportunities to be blessed and become ourselves, blessing,” he said. -- BAP, GMA News