A resilient priest continued to hold mass while super typhoon Rai lashed a church in the Philippines.

Reverend Father Jose Cecil Lobrigas stood behind the pulpit as violent winds whipped through the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Tagbilaran City in Bohol province on December 16. A handful of churchgoers were seen listening to the clergyman singing a religious song while the storm raged on.

The holy man said: 'In the midst of typhoon Odette on December 16, we didn't stop holding the Holy Mass even though only a few people attended. The church is committed to always praying for you.'

At least 63 people were killed during the storm in Bohol province, Bohol Governor Arthur Yap said on Sunday.

Typhoon Rai, known locally as Odette, smashed into the Philippines on December 16, with winds of up to 195 kilometres per hour. The powerful typhoon left widespread devastation across the country's Visayas and Mindanao Islands.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said more than 1.8 million people have been affected by Typhoon Rai, while the Philippine National Police said the death tally has reached 208 as of Monday December 20.

Local government units in affected areas have reported power outages and telecommunication problems, with coastal areas suffering the brunt of the damage.

National weather agency Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Typhoon Rai left the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday December 18. It is intensifying over the West Philippine Sea and is expected to approach central Vietnam and Hainan island in China.