By Matters India Reporter
Junagadh, Dec 20, 2021: A Catholic parish in the western Indian state of Gujarat has decided to put on hold external celebrations of Christmas to sympathize with the families that have lost their relatives in the Covid pandemic.
“This year the parish has decided not to have Christmas tree celebrations, visiting families with carol singing and the illumination inside and outside the church,” Father Vinod Kannatt, parish priest of St. Ann’s parish, Junagadh, told Matters India.
The parish, which is under the Syro-Malabar diocese of Rajkot, has lost eight of its members during the second wave of pandemic Covid-19, he added.
“A simple crib will be prepared inside the church depicting the Nativity scene,” Father Kannatt explained.
However, the parish is paying greater attention to the spiritual preparations of its members.
The parishioners are requested to make good confession to make this year’s Christmas celebration more meaningful and fruitful.
Father Kannatt will join a few parish council members to visit the bereaved families and offer a Christmas cake on the Christmas day to express the parish’s solidarity and togetherness with them.
“This year’s Christmas celebration is an occasion for us to console the families and hold them together as one family as people still live in the fear of the third wave of the pandemic in our country,” explained the priest, used to cycle to the homes of parishioners amid the coronavirus pandemic to care for the sick and elderly.
“The pandemic has put the parish’s tradition on hold this year, but it cannot put a hold on our prayers,” the 59-year-old priest said.
The parish has scheduled the Christmas vigil Mass at 7 pm on December 24 in view of the Covid restrictions.
Father Kannatt was first appointed to the parish in 2008 but was transferred in 2014. However, he was reappointed following the parishioners’ demand.
Since then, the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate priest has been innovative methods in his pastoral ministry.