Mumbai: Catholic churches in Mumbai are getting ready to reopen for public Masses on November 29 after an eight-month Covid-19 lockdown. Worshipers will be seated far apart in the pews, prayer books will be absent, and masks and sanitizers will be omnipresent.

Holy Name Cathedral in Colaba, where Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the archbishop of Bombay officiates, can accommodate 125 people at one-third capacity.

Father Nigel Barrett, spokesman for the archdiocese of Bombay, said, “Churches will follow all SOPs including foot pedal dispensers, thermal scanners, fogging the premises and observing social distancing. There will be gaps between mass to allow volunteers to sanitize the church. We are increasing the number of services to ensure that only one-third capacity of the church is allowed.”

Parish priest Rocky Banz of the Church of Our Lady of Victories, Mahim, or Victoria Church, said, “People did get to view online mass during the lockdown but they missed communion. They are pleased to be back and receive communion — of course in the hand not mouth. We will sanitize the church using a portable fogging machine, check people’s temperature at the entrance and provide masks should visitors forget.” Victoria Church will host 300 worshipers as against its capacity of 500.

St Peter’s Church, Bandra, has arranged nine Masses to avoid crowding. Parish priest Jesuit Frazer Mascarenhas said, “We will welcome parishioners between the ages of 11 and 64 on a first come first served basis. We have devised strict safety protocols like masks on at all times on campus, temperature monitoring and sanitizing hands before entering, and sitting only in marked seats. About one-fourth of the normal seating will be available, amounting to about 250 people at a time. Choirs and hymn books are not allowed, but a single singer and an accompanist will assist at Mass.”

At Gloria Church, Byculla, parish priest Father Dennis Gonsalves has arranged seven Masses on Sundays and two on Saturday evenings, which are considered as Sunday Masses. He said, “We can accommodate about 200 people by keeping physical distance. We have put fluorescent tapes to indicate seating. On the first bench two people will sit at extreme ends, on the second bench one will sit in the center, and this way it will continue for other benches. Families can sit together in a pew.”

Over in Belapur, Navi Mumbai, a display board inside St Joseph Church reads “Distance yourself from people not from God.” Parish priest Father Venancio Mascarenhas is putting the slogan into practice by increasing the number of services to cater to all members. “Thermal check, sanitizing and social distancing protocol will be overseen by our parish council team. However, senior citizens are upset at being left out of the services,” he said.

Meanwhile, most churches under the Church of North India and other Protestant churches started public services from November 22. Reverend Cyril Dara of the Anglican CNI denomination St Andrews Marathi Church, Agripada, said, “That day we held our first Mass after lockdown without serving Holy Communion, without singing, and finished mass in 40 minutes maintaining all protocol.”

Source: The Times of India