PANAJI/MAPUSA
It was a Christmas with a difference in parishes across the State, as priests and parishioners adapted to different celebrations amid the pandemic.
The pandemic and concerns towards the affected, needy and underprivileged, different themes, and burning issues in the State were some of the subjects in focus as parishes celebrated Christmas this year.
The Goan interacted with several priests and lay leaders to capture the mood, celebrations and spirit of Christmas in their parishes.
CHICALIM
Fr Bolmax Pereira, Parish Priest at St Francis Xavier Church, Chicalim, said there would be a unique Christmas celebration with a difference for villagers this year.
“They will recognize, salute and honour the real 'Covid Warriors', the garbage workers of Chicalim. A special fellowship has been organised for these 30 garbage collectors working in Chicalim village on December 26 at 7 pm at the Chicalim Church open-air venue, thereby sharing the spirit of Christmas with the marginalised.”
“The Village Development Committee members of Chicalim Panchayat, Parish Social Apostolate Forum members of SFX Church and the Chicalim Bio-Crusaders have jointly organised this function to acknowledge the tiring, thankless and committed services rendered by our garbage workers,” Fr Pereira added.
PANAJI
Fr Walter de Sa, the parish priest at Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Panaji, said the priests had prepared parishioners during the advent season for a worthy celebration of the Nativity of Jesus through reflection on the Word of God, with a focus on repentance, sharing and forgiving with the culmination of the solemn midnight Mass.
“This time, due to the pandemic, we did not have an open-air Mass, but our parishioners joined in the midnight liturgical service inside the Church. It was telecast live, and TV screens were mounted in the lobby and corridors, where people were accommodated to enable them to participate in the Mass.”
“Instead of a choir, there were three cantors and an organist who sang carols, hymns and parts of the Mass. A crib was set up inside the Church instead of the huge one on the square of the Church. We celebrated special Masses exclusively for senior citizens and catechism children,” Fr de Sa added.
AGONDA
Fr Kyriel D’Souza, a senior Pilar Priest at the St Anne Church in Agonda, said Christmas celebrations were revised in the parish due to the pandemic.
“We avoided the big Church crib, to prevent the youth from coming together and working on it. We also avoided distribution of Communion during the Mass and kept it towards the end of everything, to ensure that people may not congregate after Mass to wish one another but they were instructed to go out one by one and avoid wishing one another.”
“The kissing of the Statue of Baby Jesus was avoided and there was no distribution of cake and coffee after the Midnight Mass to avoid congregating after the service,” said Fr D’Souza.
He also said Mass was held simultaneously at six places to disperse parishioners at six different places, so that there could be safe distancing during the services.
“Our people were extremely happy that all of them could participate in the Midnight Mass for Christmas, which is very dear to us Christians,” added Fr D’Souza.
NERUL
Fr Olavo Caiado, Parish Priest at Our Lady of Remedios Church, Nerul, said Christmas was celebrated joyfully with a focus on the families.
“Although all parishioners could not come together to celebrate at one time, there were four masses spread throughout the day, for people to participate.”
“Covid cannot dampen our spirit. The Spirit of Christmas is love. This love led our parishioners to get involved in family activities. As such we have three activities, children preparing Christmas cards, youngsters preparing a video of the family singing a Christmas carol and family members together preparing the star.
“Cards and Stars displayed at the church and videos will be sent to all the parishioners,” said Fr Caiado.
SIOLIM
Fr Clifford Castelino, the Parochial Administrator at St Anthony Church in Siolim, made efforts to motivate his parishioners that the Christmas spirit is alive even amid the pandemic.
“The Parish of St Anthony Church at Siolim took up the opportunity to step up and lead well through the pandemic in a way that brought growth and connection.”
“Forty stars were beautifully made by catechism students of the parish along with significant messages and carol singing videos.”
“Each Somudai created Christmas symbols. The parish youth made a beautiful crib and star, based on the teachings of "Laudato Si" and also considering the present status of Mollem.”
“An unprecedented and phenomenal happening occurred in the parish. Many people including the youth came forward and shared commodities with the underprivileged,” added Fr Castelino.
MAPUSA
Parishes in Mapusa and Duler celebrated several Masses on Christmas day to allow a greater number of people to participate in the services.
While the St Jerome Church in Mapusa kept the Midnight Mass and Masses on Christmas Day open to the public on first-cum-first-serve basis but to a maximum limit of 80, the St Francis Xavier Church at Duler decided to allow only parishioners pre-registered with them.
The Mapusa Church will celebrate a total of 10 Masses beginning from December 24 evening including the Midnight Mass and Masses on December 25, while the Duler Church will celebrate four masses, including the midnight service.
The pandemic has ensured there will be no open-air masses as all services were to take place inside the church. Normally, the midnight Christmas Mass was always held in the open air outside in the church compound.
The Midnight Mass in Mapusa Church was reserved for members of the Parish Council, which numbers to 53, plus members of several other associations like the St Vincent de Paul.
“But if all members of the Parish Council do not make it, we will allow members of the public to attend the service,” said Jerry Santamaria, moderator of Mapusa Parish Council.
“We have kept Masses on Christmas Day open to the public on a first-cum-first-served basis to a maximum of 80 persons. This will include the senior citizens too,” he added.
The parish, however, has followed all mandatory protocols like checking of temperature, sanitisation, wearing of masks and maintaining social distancing.
The Duler Church decided to take a different approach and allowed only people from wards and those who have registered their names to attend the midnight service and Masses on Christmas Day.
“We ensured that only people from our wards will attend Masses so that it becomes easier for contact tracing, if required. We have followed all other mandatory SOPs as announced earlier,” said Graciano Gomes, moderator of the Duler Parish.
He said the midnight service was celebrated inside the church but a live screen was erected outside for those attending the service from outside.
The Duler Church also conducted live streaming of Masses so that people could watch the services from their homes.
