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Bishop orders parish structures to be inspected after SJDM church collapse

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Michael Delizo

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/021424_church collapse.jpg" style="width:950px;text-align:left" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The aftermath of the collapse of a portion of the gallery of St. Peter the Apostle parish in Barangay Tungkong Mangga, San Jose del Monte City. Photo courtesy of the SJDM CDRRMO."/>The aftermath of the collapse of a portion of the gallery of St. Peter the Apostle parish in Barangay Tungkong Mangga, San Jose del Monte City. Photo courtesy of the SJDM CDRRMO.BULACAN — A Catholic bishop on Wednesday ordered priests to inspect parish structures following the collapse of a portion of mezzanine floor of a church in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan province.</div>In a statement released by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Malolos Bishop Dennis Villarojo said the faithful are expected to surge to churches for the Lenten celebrations.On Wednesday morning, a portion of the gallery of St. Peter the Apostle parish in Barangay Tungkong Mangga, San Jose del Monte City collapsed while a mass was being celebrated for Ash Wednesday, the beginning of 40-day Season of Lent.   <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/14/pangalawang-palapag-ng-simbahan-bumagsak-sa-sjdm-bulacan-918">Bahagi ng simbahan bumagsak sa SJDM, Bulacan; 1 patay, nasa 50 sugatan</a><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/14/in-photos-aftermath-of-sjdm-church-collapse-1200">IN PHOTOS: Aftermath of SJDM Church collapse</a></div>“The City authorities are currently investigating the incident and the parish church is closed until further notice,” Villarojo said.He continued: “I have also instructed all parish priests to check their parish structures considering the great number of faithful coming every year to Lenten celebrations.”An 80-year-old woman, who was also a choir member, died of cardiac arrest after sustaining a blunt trauma, according to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.At least 55 other parishioners sustained injuries and were brought to different hospitals for treatment, latest figures showed.Based on the initial investigation, the balcony was loaded with parishioners who were queueing for the marking of cross in ash on their foreheads when the incident happened.The balcony, which was constructed in 1994, was made of wood and had already been infested with termite pests.“So far, wala akong alam na na-inspeksyon. Siguro sa dami na rin ng tao, bumigay na at nakita ko naman kanina noong bumagsak na may mga anay na pala,” Fr. Romulo Perez, parish priest of St. Peter The Apostle parish, said in an interview.&quot;Nakita naming maraming anay — 30 years old na ‘yong portion na ‘yon, hindi naalagaan ng simbahan,” San Jose Del Monte Mayor Arthur Robes added.Meanwhile, Villarojo offered prayers to the victims.“We pray for the eternal repose of the faithful departed and we offer our sincere condolences and assurance of assistance to the family. As we pray for healing and consolation to all those affected, we invoke the consoling motherly care of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the steadfast faith of St. Peter,” he said. RELATED VIDEO <ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="2960293"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(60, 151, 255)" target="_blank">iWantTFC.com</a>. Watch hundreds of Pinoy shows, movies, live sports and news.

At least 55 other parishioners sustained injuries and were brought to different hospitals for treatment, latest figures showed.

At least 55 other parishioners sustained injuries and were brought to different hospitals for treatment, latest figures showed.