PANAJI
Having been compelled to make changes in the celebration of Masses and other religious services on account of the Covid pandemic, a number of churches and chapels in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman will depart from tradition and make further changes to ensure safer Christmas celebrations.
Perhaps the most significant change in the traditional celebrations is an addition to the number of Masses being celebrated on Christmas eve and on Christmas Day.
This year, many parishes and chapels have decided to celebrate additional Masses on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day, a bid to balance the restrictions in the number of people permitted to attend each Mass and the large number of Catholic faithful eager to participate in the Christmas Masses.
According to a source, four Masses are usually celebrated on the Nativity of the Lord as per liturgical norms.
“The first Mass is after dusk and before midnight on Christmas Eve, the second Mass is at Midnight, the third Mass during the dawn on Christmas Day and the fourth Mass is later during the day.”
“However, on account of the pandemic this year, many parishes are likely to celebrate additional Masses to commemorate Christmas, mainly to accommodate more parishioners on account of SOPs and other restrictions,” said the source.
The churches and chapels have exercised considerable caution and have drawn up elaborate arrangements to ensure compliance of SOPs of the archdiocese and government regulations, which include sanitisation, social distancing and use of face masks.
At the Holy Family Church in Alto-Porvorim, Masses on Christmas Eve will now be celebrated at 8 pm and 10 pm, the Christmas Midnight Mass at 12 am and Masses on Christmas Day at 7 am, 8 am and 9.30 am.
At the St Francis Xavier Church in Chicalim, Parish Priest Fr Bolmax Pereira said the Midnight service will begin at 11.30 pm on December 24, while Masses on Christmas Day will be at 7.30 am (Konkani) and 9 am (English). An additional Mass will be celebrated at 10.30 am in Konkani at Pallotti Home.
Fr Leslie Bosco Rego, Assistant Parish Priest at Our Lady of Merces Church at Merces, said there will be three additional Masses this year.
“With these additional Masses, the Merces Church will have the Christmas midnight service at 11.30 pm, as well as Masses at 6 am, 7 am, 8 am, 9 am and 10 am on Christmas Day,” said Fr Rego.
The St Anthony Church in Siolim will have four masses for Christmas, with limited attendance this year.
“Masses will be celebrated 8 pm and 11.45 pm on Christmas Eve, while Masses on Christmas Day will be at 6 am and 8.30 am. Likewise, other Masses in the parish will be celebrated at the Marna chapel at 8 pm (December 24), Portavaddo chapel at 10 am (December 25), Gaunsavaddo chapel at 11.30 pm (December 24) and 8 am (December 25),” said Fr Clifford Castelino, Parochial Administrator at St Anthony Church in Siolim.
The St Anne Church in Agonda will have a Mass at 10 pm on Christmas eve and at 7.30 am on Christmas Day, while Masses will also be celebrated at five chapels, informed Fr Kyriel D’Souza.
At the Se Catedral in Old Goa, Parish Priest Fr Alfred Vas said there will be a midnight Mass at 11.30 pm (December 24), celebrated by the Archbishop of Goa and Daman and Masses at 7 pm, 8.30 am and 10 am on Christmas Day.
