By Matters India Reporter
Mumbai: The Archdiocese of Bombay has decided to open churches in a graded way after the Maharashtra government permitted opening of places of worship from November 16.
“Keeping in mind the experience of churches in other states which opened earlier, we thought it best to have a graded opening,” says a letter from Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, addressed to his priests.
The November 15 letter says the archdiocese had meetings with the deans to prepare the priests for a graded opening of churches with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). The letter also says the deans had contacted the parish priests who have agreed to open churches with a team of ushers and volunteers.
The cardinal asserts that the faithful have the right to pastoral care, including sacramental ministry “and our obligation to protect our people from the coronavirus infection.”
So, the archdiocese insists on “three cardinal points” such as the wearing of masks, social distancing and provision for the sanitization of hands.
Instead of starting Masses and other services straightaway, the archdiocese has decided to keep the churches open only for visits to the Blessed Sacrament and for personal prayers on November 16 and 17. The timings are from 10am to noon, and 4-7pm.
The archdiocese will hold a meeting of deans November 18 to review the situation and plan future course of action such as starting Mass for the public.
During the two-day trial period, the archdiocese wants the parish priests to ensure that people follow the government guidelines and restrict the number of people entering churches.
The cardinal ends the letter saying that opening of the churches “does not mean that the danger of infection is over.”
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government permitted religious places to open on November with firm implementation of post lockdown guidelines.
People have been kept away from places of worship for the past eight months. They often halted outside, said a silent prayer and went on their way.
The Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust in Shirdi has mandated visitors to make online bookings and obtain a time slot for darshan. People will have to show their booking receipts at the entrance. Up to 6,000 people will be allowed daily, in contrast to the average footfall of 20,000-30,000. While 50 percent will be paid darshan, the remainder will be free. There will be no distribution of sweets, although devotees will receive prasad in the halls built for the purpose.
Wadala’s Ram Mandir, which wore a forlorn look through Ram Navami and Dussehra, reopened with ‘kakad aarti’ at 6 am, said trust general secretary Ulhas Kamat.
The muezzin called Muslims to prayer from the local mosque. On November 15, the long prayer carpet was removed from the Andheri Muslim Qabrastan Masjid at Four Bungalows. Trustee Atik Babar Kashmiri said, “We will follow all government guidelines and request namazis to bring their own prayer mats. We have requisitioned a foot-operated sanitiser dispenser as well.”
Nasha R Jassawalla, managing trustee of the Rustomfaramna Agiary or fire temple at Dadar Parsi Colony, cautioned behdins (worshippers) against bringing flowers and offerings, maintain physical distance at celebrations or ceremonies, and use masks and sanitisers. The agiary has removed its prayer books for the public.