From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Apr 7: All public liturgical services in churches, chapels and other institutions in Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts of the Bangalore Archdiocese have been suspended till April 21 by Archbishop Fr Dr Peter Machado in view of the state government’s latest decision of ordering the suspension of all public religious services on account of the surge in the second wave of Covid pandemic.

The official circular issued by the Archbishop to all churches and religious institutions on Wednesday instructs that masses and other religious services for the faithful shall stand suspended.

Dr Peter Machado

However, the churches, chapels and other religious institutions can be kept open for private visits and prayers. There will be no Eucharistic Masses for large gatherings. The priests, however, have been permitted to offer private masses with no faithful present or limited numbers.

Liturgical services like mass and other prayers shall be live-streamed by the Bangalore Archdiocese and the parishes wherever feasible as was done last year.

Matrimonial celebrations and funeral masses shall not be held in the churches. For Weddings, however, a restriction of 50 persons shall apply. Funerals will be held only in the cemeteries, where prayer services for a limited number of 50 persons with or without Holy Masses shall be held.