Mumbai News

Mumbai: Holy week ceremonies curtailed by Covid-19 protocols – Times of India

MUMBAI: For second year in a row, the Catholic Church has pressed the mute button on holy week festivities.
Elaborate ceremonies and processions have been cancelled owing to the resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Easter Sunday, the most important occasion on the Christian calendar which comes up April 4, will also be celebrated without community fanfare.
Archbishop of Bombay, Oswald Cardinal Gracias, will broadcast all his services online. Issuing Holy Week guidelines to priests, he said, “The washing of the feet ceremony at Maundy Thursday is cancelled. On Good Friday, the individual kissing of the cross is prohibited.” After the unveiling, the cross will be held aloft for the entire congregation to venerate.
The Cardinal directed that no special Altar of Repose be prepared at Maundy Thursday, that readings be shortened before Easter Vigil mass and that the fire not be prepared either.
Still, some groups in IC Colony Borivli performed the washing of the feet ceremony and relayed it live to the community.
St Thomas Cathedral, the seat of the Anglican faith, is continuing Holy Week services amid Covid protocol. Kamal Jadhav, a member of the pastorate committee, said, “We do not traditionally have processions. Our services for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Services are being carried out by following proper Covid protocol. Not more than 50 people in attendance, social distancing and extensive sanitising.” The Cathedral is live streaming all services for parishioners.
Meanwhile, Joseph Dias of the Catholic Secular Forum has called off his large Good Friday rally of Santacruz for the second pandemic year in a row. “The intentions we are praying for include Fr Stan Swamy still being in prison, the nuns attacked at Jhansi and human rights activists who are being targeted. But the Good Friday procession will not take place. We used to attract a crowd of over 15,000 people along the 15 stations of the cross. The 7km long rally (from Santacruz West to East) spanned six hours from 10.00am to 4.00pm,” he said. CSF will broadcast archival footage on the occasion.
Over in Agripada, Cyril Dara, secretary of the United Christians of Mumbai, cancelled his Easter Eve procession of 700-800 people that winds its way around Agripada, Byculla, Nagpada and Mumbai Central.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/mumbai-holy-week-ceremonies-curtailed-by-covid-19-protocols/articleshow/81853934.cms