The catholic churches in Mumbai will allow the public to attend mass from November 29. The date also happens to be beginning of the new liturgical year.
On November 18, two days after churches opened for individual prayer, Archbishop of Bombay Oswald Cardinal Gracias and the deans reviewed the situation. The Cardinal has advised priests to enforce COVID-19 precautions including sanitising the church before each service, not touching statues and preventing overcrowding.
Keeping in view of the current situation, the government has restricted on distributing sacred food in places of worship. Therefore, only the celebrating priest will receive holy communion at mass and the deans will advise regarding the arrangement of communion for people at mass.
In accordance with the government guidelines, the churches have advised that elderly persons above 65 years of age and children below 10 to not go to public places of worship.
The immediate test of these measures will happen on November 22 during the Feast of Christ the King, when people will arrive in the church in groups at different times. Accordingly, the priests can review the situation and can announce the SOPs in a week’s time before November 29.
The Cardinal and deans will meet for further review in early December and announce a plan for Christmas celebrations.
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