PRINCE KUMAR
Ranchi, Dec 20: With the threat of the new variant of Covid-19 – Omicron – posing a potential threat, most Churches in Ranchi have chosen to take a wait-and-see approach, taking into account the government’s guidelines (if any) before starting the Christmas festivities, even as they pray that the new variation does not cause devastation in people’s lives and that they remain safe.
“Public wellbeing is our priority and with the Omicron danger posing a potential threat, we are anticipating government regulations that may continue in the near future of Christmas. Last year, we had followed all of the rules in order to avoid a mass outbreak of the sickness during large social gatherings,” said Theodore Mascarenhas, Bishop of Ranchi under the Roman Catholic Church.
“At this point, I don’t see development of the Omicron variation as an exceptionally large danger as most people are vaccinated. Having said that, the development of the new variation is naturally a worry for us all and we should practice persistence. We are appealing to God to give us a protected Christmas as well as to allow us a protected and blessed New Year,” he added.
Johan Dang, the mediator of Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church, also said that they are anticipating mandates from the state and Union government prior to concluding the Christmas plans of places of worship that go under their purview.
“Notwithstanding the development of Omicron, the current year’s Christmas will ideally be an ordinary one, nearer to what it was before the pandemic started. In any case, we are keeping a nearby watch on the circumstance and are sitting tight for headings from the public authority. We would rigorously keep all rules that might be given in the days to come,” he said.
“In the event that limitations are forced by the public authority, we would observe Christmas in our homes and in our souls. This moment, we are simply petitioning God to give us a Christmas, liberated from the shadows of Covid,” he added.
