Goa: Churches prefer to reopen after Covid cases fall

PANAJI: Although most churches prefer to defer their reopening, they have started planning so that they have SOPs in place to welcome back the faithful once Covid cases dip.
At the Holy Family Church, Porvorim, details have been collected of devotees who would be interested in visiting the church for personal prayer (at designated times) and for Mass once a week. While collecting the names, it discouraged those falling in high risk categories from coming to the church during the pandemic.
The parish has prepared a timetable as it plans to make more Masses available to the people. Evening Masses are also on the cards, to ensure that everyone gets an opportunity to participate while maintaining social distancing.
“Unless the situation improves, we won’t start services,” parish priest Fr Caetano Fernandes told TOI.
“People too are of the opinion that we shouldn’t start immediately. In the meantime, we are putting a plan in place and keeping everything ready in accordance with the SOPs so that we can apply for permission from the archbishop to start when the curve flattens,” he said.
The Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Panaji, has to factor in the several devotees from other parts of Goa who work in the capital city and visit the church before work or during their lunch break.
The church is in the process of procuring thermal guns and putting in place the elaborate SOPs issued by the Archbishop, including activating volunteers.
With social distancing mandatory, they are also working out possible seating arrangements for faithful on its 40 benches.
“Everything is in the planning stage. It will take time,” parish priest Fr Walter de Sa said.
“Some parishioners feel we should hold on till September as the cases are only rising. Although some are enthusiastic to return, others are very cautious. It is unlikely that we will be able to start services in the next two months,” he said.
Our Lady of Grace Church, in Margao, is planning to organise Masses sector-wise but only once the Covid graph dips.
“We are very prudent as far as opening is concerned. We can’t think of holding services even though people are ready to attend. It is not advisable to open churches at this time,” parish priest Fr Joe Rodrigues said. Despite the churches being closed, the priests are still catering to people’s spiritual needs, he said.
The archdiocese on June 22 prescribed strict guidelines for churches and stated that the measures would be inspected before permission is granted for reopening of each church. The central government permitted places of worship to open on June 8.