PRINCE KUMAR
Ranchi, Dec 24: Jharkhand capital is ready to slip into the festive mode from midnight today as the churches in Ranchi gear up to celebrate the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ.
To prevent overcrowding, the churches will be hosting live streams of the midnight mass on December 24 as well as December 25.
With no new guidelines from the state government to regulate gatherings ahead of Christmas and New Year, churches here have decided to strictly adhere to the Covid-19 norms and keep the devotees and their families safe.
They have marked their floors for following the social distancing during the gathering and in case the hall gets filled with devotees, arrangements have been made outside the campus as well.
At the same time, in view of the more crowds at the festival, LED screens will be installed in the church premises by putting up tents.
Archbishop Felix Toppo will conduct the special Mass of the birth of Jesus at Saint Mary Church from 10:30 pm today. Mass will be held from 5, 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. on December 25, keeping in view the convenience of the people.
However, Bishops on Thursday called upon people to shun extravagant spending during Christmas and celebrate the occasion by helping the poor.
The Archbishop said that after two years of suffering due to Covid-19, this year people should take steps to maintain communal harmony, reach out to neighbours in distress and help everybody.
To set an example, the Archbishop House, the official residence of the Ranchi archbishop, has just put up a simple crib describing the scene of the nativity to commemorate Christmas. No other decoration has been allowed, Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas said.
“Continuing the charitable work, the Catholic Church has decided to gift 20 cycle rickshaws and 32 sewing machines to the poor on December 26. This Christmas, we urge all to donate more to charity,” Mascarenhas said.
