the goan I network
PANAJI
Responding to the archdiocese’s circular on Thursday, parishes and Catholic institutions across the State began cancelling various religious services involving mass gatherings and instead, turned to technology to impart these services to families at home.
In an unprecedented move, the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman had on Thursday dispensed the Catholic faithful in the archdiocese from the obligation of participating in the Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation, in a bid to control the spread of coronavirus in the State.
The archdiocese waived off a number of religious obligations and services, but insisted that due precaution must be exercised if these services are to be conducted.
Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão, however, indicated clearly that Masses would not be stopped and that, priests should continue to celebrate Mass even without a congregation. Acting on the archdiocese’s circular, churches and religious institutions turned to technology and social media to convey changes to the religious services.
Many priests began intimating the Catholic faithful about the revised services through messages on social media, adding that Masses would be telecast on YouTube and on websites.
At the Holy Family Church in Porvorim, Parish Priest Fr Caetano Fernandes informed his parishioners that there would be no Mass with the congregation from Saturday till March 31.
“The Holy Family Church will do the live streaming of the masses. Please stay at home on Saturday also as you are dispensed from the Sunday Obligation,” said Fr Fernandes, while adding later that the live streaming of Masses in the parish would be available on the Holy Family Parish website.
“The anniversary masses will be rescheduled to a different time and will be celebrated only with the family members. So no masses with the congregation will be held till further notice,” he added.
A Mass celebrated by Fr John Fernandes at the St Andrew’s Church, Vasco, on Friday was also uploaded on YouTube and shared on social media.
Meanwhile, the diocesan centres have prepared various ‘Aids to Prayer’ to help the Church and families to celebrate their faith while at home.
In a message, Fr Afonso Mendonça, director of Diocesan Centre for Liturgy, said specific days have been allocated for various religious services, consisting of Liturgy of the Word (Sunday), the Rosary (Monday), Liturgy of the Hours (Tue/ Thur/Sat), Prayer Service “ Word of God/Passion of Christ (Wednesday) and Way of the Cross (Friday).
“These ‘Aids’ are a collaborative effort of the Staff of the Pastoral Institute and the Pastoralites, Diocesan Centre for Biblical Apostolate, Diocesan Catechetical Centre, Diocesan Centre for Liturgy, Priests and Lay faithful. We thank them sincerely for accepting this challenge at a moment’s notice.”
“Our aim is that these aids reach every house in Goa. Hence, we strongly urge you to forward it through E-Mail, WhatsApp or any other means of social media,” said Fr Mendonça, while adding that the information would also be made available on the Archdiocesan website: http://archgoadaman.com.
Elsewhere, the Pilar Monestary suspended all public services till further notice at the Pilar Monastery Church, keeing in mind general public safety.
“However those willing to spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament personally or pray at the tomb of Ven Agnelo de Souza may do so. Please see that you keep safe distance and take safety measures,” stated an appeal by Fr Tony Fernandes SFX, Rector at Pilar Monastery.
“Most members of the Pilar Monastery community are over 60 years. We enjoy your presence with us but in these circumstances we request you to please avoid visiting the fathers.”
“This is an occasion to strengthen our Family Prayer. Let us keep praying for those affected and pray that all of us may be spared from this serious pandemic,” he added.No Masses with congregation on
Sunday, says Archdiocese
PANAJI: The Archdiocese of Goa and Daman has advised all its priests that Masses should be celebrated without any congregation in Catholic places of worship on Sunday, following an appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a nationwide ‘janata curfew’ on that day.
In a message to all priests on Friday, Fr Barry Cardozo, Director of the Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media, said: “In view of the nationwide ‘janata curfew’ proposed by the Government of India on March 22, I am instructed by the Archbishop to convey that no mass with congregation should be celebrated in our places of worship on Sunday. However, priests are urged to celebrate their Mass without a congregation, for the intentions of their flock. This Mass could be made to reach the faithful, by using the modern means of communication at our disposal.”
“Incidentally, it is believed that the 14-hour long nationwide curfew will effectively check the spread of the coronavirus, which apparently has a 12-hour span of life. Hence we may w ell emerge as a safer nation at the end of the day, for which it is important that we should strictly remain indoors,” Fr Cardozo added.
