First-come-first-served formula for NY spl services at churches

Kolkata: This is perhaps the first time that

churches

in the city are having to say “no” with folded hands once the permissible limit of crowds is over for special

services

on New Year’s Eve and

New Year

. “Come early to avoid disappointment” is the new normal norm due to the Covid restrictions. Registrations are on and churches are being forced to disallow people inside beyond the permissible limit of crowds.

On Thursday, thanksgiving and special mass were organised in the evening across Roman Catholic churches in the city. In some churches governed by the Church of North India, midnight mass was held while morning services for New Year have been organised in rest of the churches. The Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary and St Paul’s Cathedral are two main churches of the Roman Catholic and CNI.

The

prayers

at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary were conducted by Archbishop Thomas D’Souza for both the thanksgiving and the special mass on Thursday evening. He will also conduct the New Year service on Friday morning. In both the prayers, his message is one of hope and peace. “We are being looked after by God. We must have faith and move on steadfastly. Nothing happens without His will and we must invite his grace whole heartedly into our lives,” said Archbishop D’Souza in his thanksgiving prayer. Friday will be treated as Sunday in all Roman Catholic churches and multiple services will be held so that all parishioners have a chance to attend one service or the other. Friday will also be celebrated as feast of Mother Mary. Many churches will also hold Bangla services. “We will be able to allow only 50 parishioners who come first,” said Father Orson Wells, parish priest of the Church of Our Lady of Vailankanni at Picnic Garden.

Midnight mass will be held at St James Church, St Thomas Church Free School Street, Holy Trinity Church, Amherst Street and Christ Church, Hedua. At Union Chapel and St John’s Diocesan 150 people will be allowed in the New Year service.


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