Churches tweak mass timings this Xmas in Hyderabad

From the days when the vicar called upon all the parishioners to make sure that they came for Christmas Mass at the same time, churches this year are following staggered timings to 'break up' crowds and to ensure physical distancing during the mass.

Hyderabad: Troubled times call for unprecedented measures, and the Covid-19 pandemic is making churches in the capital do that on Christmas.

From the days when the vicar called upon all the parishioners to make sure that they came for Christmas Mass at the same time, churches this year are following staggered timings to ‘break up’ crowds and to ensure physical distancing during the mass. Senior citizens therefore have a separate mass, like the Sacred Heart Church in South Lalaguda is doing.

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According to Malcolm Taylor, council member of the church, Christmas Mass at the Sacred Heart Church this year would be in five ‘pieces’. One for senior citizens would be at 8 pm on Thursday, while there would one for everyone at 10 pm, another at 6 am on Friday, 8 am and one more at 9.30 am.

“We used to have at least 2,500 persons gathering for midnight mass every year. This time, on account of Covid-19, we are breaking up the crowd, sanitising the church after each gathering, ensuring masks and also making space outside the church along with screens so that those standing outside can also witness the mass,” Taylor said.

Different churches were following different timings but almost similar patterns. While some were conducting four masses, there were others who went with six, with having special mass at 11.30 am on Friday as well.

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