Panaji, Mar 21 (IANS): The Roman Catholic Church in Goa has cancelled mass prayer services in the state's Churches on Sunday, in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for 'Janata Curfew' for 14-hours, according to a circular issued by the Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao's office to all parish priests in the state.

The top Catholic religious figure in the state, has also urged priests to adopt modern means of technology, to ensure that prayer services are broadcast online in order to avoid congregations in times of the coronavirus pandemic.

"In view of the nationwide 'janata curfew' proposed by the Government for the March 22, I am instructed by the Archbishop to convey to you that no mass with congregation should be celebrated in our places of worship on Sunday, the March 22," the circular issued on Saturday said.

"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," it also said, adding that India may emerge as a safer nation at the end of the self-imposed curfew exercise.

The Goa Church has already absolved Catholics from the Canonical law requiring their presence at prayer services every Sunday and has urged children, senior citizens as well as those are unwell -- particularly with symptoms matching those generated by the viral disease.