As per state government’s instructions, 10 pm is the deadline set for midnight mass this Christmas and that too, only for 50 percent worshippers at a time.
Navi Mumbai: Christians in the city are preparing to participate in the yearly midnight mass a little early today, as per the instructions of the state government, in the wake of the omicron threat. So, the 12 am mass will be held two hours earlier, at 10 pm, in all churches in Navi Mumbai.
Tiana D’souza, a Kharghar resident, says, “We are having mixed feelings right now. At one hand, we are sad that the annual Christmas event will be nothing like it used to be, but on the other hand, we also know that it is necessary, given the growing threat of omicron, slowly gripping the city.”
It is likely that some of the churches would be taking in at least two batches of 50 percent of the capacity, to be able to accommodate all their congregators before the deadline of 10 pm.
In Kharghar, some of the churches have called congregators as early as 8.30 pm for the mass.
Surprisingly, this Christmas, congregators in many churches in Navi Mumbai and Mumbai have been asked to register themselves for the midnight mass in advance. In most of the churches, attendance is only by invitation.
In most of the places, elders above 60 years and children below 10 years have been skipped from the invitations.
Similarly, the New Year’s Eve mass will also be held in batches before 10 pm, as per government directives.
LocalPress.in tried connecting with both the municipal corporations but of late, corresponding with the civic bodies has become a herculean task. So, whatever we have written here is from sources other than the NMMC and PMC.
Last Updated on December 24, 2021 by Staff Reporter
