Christmas services with limited participation

• Key midnight masses will be telecast on TV
• Cardinal requests everyone to follow strict health guidelines

By  Yohan Perera

The Holy Christmas services in Catholic churches will begin at 6 pm on December 24 this year with limited crowds and  strict health procedures due to the pandemic, instead of  the usual solitary midnight service, Colombo’s Archbishop His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said yesterday.

Cardinal Ranjith told a media conference that the midnight mass and the Christmas masses will be celebrated strictly according to guidelines stipulated by the health authorities.  As per the guidelines of health authorities only 50 persons can  attend a church service.
In addition the midnight service which will be conducted by Cardinal Ranjith at St. Sebastian’s Church, Kandana,  service by Bishop Maxwell  Silva at Our Lady of Lourds shrine Kimbulapitiya, by Bishop Antony Jayakody at St Sebastian’s Church Moratuwa , the Tamil mass by Bishop Anton Ranjith at St Sylvester’s Church Ettukala and the mass by Apostalate Nuncio Vatican Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Archbishop Brian Udaigwe in English from All Saints Church Borella will be telecast live on various TV channels. “Christmas mass will be arranged by Parish priests according to the needs of each parish subject to health guidelines,” the Cardinal said.
He also requested Catholics not to move from district to district to visit relatives.

“We request everyone to cut down external signs as much as possible this Christmas.  Accordingly, confine the celebration to your families and also think of those who have lost their jobs and are facing financial crises as a result of COVID 19. Invite such a family to celebrate Christmas with you or send them a meal or dry rations. I also request the government and private institutions to refrain from holding parties and get togethers this Christmas. Let us focus on spirituality this Christmas rather than focusing on external celebrations,” he added.

It is likely that other dioceses will also follow the same procedures.

• He also requested Catholics not to move from district to district to visit relatives