By Matters India Reporters

New Delhi, March 21, 2020: Christians in India are banking on their faith as the country faces the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).

Matters India spoke to some Christians across the country to know how they are trying to keep their faith amid the current outbreak.

“As the COVID-19 has put the brakes on the world and there are unprecedented bans on assembly, even in churches, and that too during Lent. Christians around the world are getting back to the basics,” said Cynthia Stephen, a social policy researcher and an independent journalist based in Bengaluru.

The global counter-pandemic efforts call for prayer for all and this is a time for one’s connection with God, she said.

“This crisis has focused our attention on the need to connect with God and how we need to reconnect with our fellow human beings and the ecology,” Stephen said.

With restrictions imposed by the government, the lowered human activity has improved the quality of the air, water, and made life easier for wildlife. This kind of shutdown could never have happened but for this viral threat, she explained.

“Is this God’s way of showing us how fragile our existence is? She asked, saying, “I think so. I hope we all think deeply about how we can all consume less, and show and more consideration to our earth and all creation too.”

K D Manoj, 51, a father of two, says he and his family are praying at home these days.

“Christian family members and others are working in the field of medical services are providing awareness through word of mouth on preventive measures such as on social distancing, washing of frequent hands and keep a clean environment at home and surrounding,” said Manoj, studio in-charge of St. Xavier’s College of Management and Technology, Patna, Bihar.

“On March 20, we had a Way of the Cross at home. We are praying in church and at home as we cannot go out now,” he said.

Likewise, A C Michael, former member of the Delhi Minorities Commission, said that Archbishop Anil JT Couto of Delhi has canceled all public church services. This would help lay faithful in following certain rituals during the Lent through social media.

“Laity is doing ‘Stations of the Cross,’ Sunday readings including responsorial Psalm, at home followed by sharing of reflections on the Word of God,” Michael said.

Family Rosaries continue to take place at home and also singing hymns. Live streaming of Holy Mass on Sundays on March 22 and 29 at 9 am is being made available at Archbishop Couto’s Facebook account, he added.

Martha Nayak, a widow of Odisha’s Kandhamal district, says Mass attendance on Sundays and other days of obligations is the first of six precepts of the Catholic Church.

“It strengthens our union with Jesus. It increases our love of God and our neighbor. Being social being He wants us to come together as a community to worship Him,” she said.

Nagarju Dasari of Vijayawada diocese of Andhra Pradesh says not attending church may lead to loss of faith in Christ. “We do fast, pray and go for the Sacrament of Reconciliation in Lent. But I am sad due to this coronavirus which kills human beings as well as my faith in Christ,” said the 25-year-old youth president of Jaggayyapet parish in Krishna District.

He quoted Mother Teresa of Kolkata who often said that Jesus was everything for her. “Mother Teresa went to Mass every day. If we love the Mass as she did, we, too will live in Jesus and he in us, and will we never be afraid,” he added.

Tara Devi of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh too says she is missing Christ. “someone has taken away my Lord,” the 45-year-old women of Govindpur said. She believes God is healer who will “protect us from the corona virus.”

Pradeep Kumar Bharti, a youth from Varanasi, finds it painful to be away from the church during the Lenten season. “But God understands us,” said the 21-year-old resident of Rudauli village. “We had family prayer and Stations of the Cross. We prayed for the world to protect from coronavirus.”

Davis Cherian, a retired government employee in Kerala’s Thrissur district, seems least perturbed by the curbs on practicing his faith. “Trust in God till death, continue to pray to God. Everything will happen according to the plan of God,” said the 58-year-old man of Nadathara village.

Davesssy Munjely, another layman from Thrissur, says Christians need to pray earnestly and keep their trust in God during these trying times. “Pray the Rosary as well,” said the resident of Marathkara village.

Komola Sangma, a house wife in Tura diocese of Meghalaya, northeastern India, says they continue to pray. “It is only God can do the miracles,” she asserted.

Rinky Sangam, a teacher from Tura diocese, sais they read the Bible and pray together the Rosary. “As Aaron prayed to God to save people of Israelites in the time of plague we put incense and pray to God to save us from the epidemic of Corona Virus.”

Father Sanjaya Xaxa of Dherapatar parish under the Archdiocese of Guwahati, nothing can stop his faith not even the coronavirus.

Sumoti Upasi, a housewife of Vasai in Maharashtra, says the Rosary and family prayers are the great weapon against the coronavirus. “There is a history of victories of Christians in different battles and healing different diseases through Holy Rosary,” said the member of St. Gonsalo Gracia Church, Berampur Stella Parish.

Jenson Alapat, a seminarian of the Kalyan diocese in Maharashtra, says God knows the devastating situation due to the spread of COVID-19. “He is ready to listen to us even at home,” said the philosophy student of the Papal Seminary, Pune.

(Purushottam Nayak has contributed to this story.)