News
A sombre Christmas
The Catholic Church is planning to celebrate Christmas this year on a sombre note in view of the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the country. The Archbishop’s House, Colombo, said that in these times of austerity the church wants to show solidarity with the masses who are reeling under the chaos created by the pandemic.
Fr Denington Subasinghe, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith’s secretary, said that all churches have been asked to restrict the usual celebrations for the season. Accordingly, churches in the Western Province will refrain from preliminary celebrations connected with Christmas, including the nativity play and Christmas carols. Annual carol services and concerts conducted at the Nelum Pokuna have been cancelled.
However, rural parishes will decide on activities they could have in keeping with the health protocols gazetted by the government. The Christmas Midnight mass will be celebrated via the church-owned Verbum channel by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith. Auxiliary Bishops will conduct a Tamil service at 9 am, a Sinhala service at 11 am and another at 5.30 pm for the English congregation via the same channel.
Parish churches have been asked to have several masses to accommodate devotees, restricting the congregation to 25 at each service. It is mandatory that devotees follow sanitary guidelines set out by the health authorities including maintaining social distance, washing hands and wearing masks.
Devotees are requested to refrain from kissing statues in the crib, and gathering in the church compound after the service.