PATNA: City churches have made all
arrangements to observe Good Friday to commemorate the crucifixion of
Jesus Christ.
Anticipating good gathering on Friday to witness ‘
Way of the Cross’, the enactment of Christ’s suffering till his crucifixion and accompanying prayers, the churches have made necessary arrangements to follow Covid-19 safety protocols like social distancing, use of sanitiser and face masks.
Patna Archbishop Sebastian Kallupura will lead the Way of the Cross, which will start from the premises of St Joseph’s Convent High School and culminate at St Joseph’s Pro-Cathedral Church. The prayer services will start at 4pm.
The
Archbishop has asked the Catholic churches to ensure that the Veneration of the Cross is done by touching instead of kissing the cross.
Churches in the city on Thursday observed a special communion service on ‘Maundy Thursday’ in memory of
Lord Jesus’ last supper. During the prayer service, parish priests observe a foot-washing ceremony that replicates Jesus’ own washing of his 12 disciples’ feet.
Fr Prem Prakash SJ, Vicar General of Patna Archdiocese, said the verses that contain the account of the events that followed the last supper of Jesus Christ with his 12 disciples a day before his crucifixion was read from the Gospel of John during the mass prayer. “From midnight, all the status of Jesus will be covered by cloth and it will open only after God Friday,” he said.
At Joseph’s Pro-Cathedral Church, Archbishop and Vicar General washed the feet of 12 disciples (faithful devotees), including six women. Around 300 devotees gathered for the prayer service on Thursday.
Fr Prakash said all
Covid protocols were followed during the communion and the number of devotees was restricted to 300 at Joseph’s Pro-Cathedral Church.
Around 1,000 devotees gathered for prayer service at Queen of the Apostles’ Church, Kurji, which was led by the parish priest Fr Michael Prashant Pius SJ. Like previous year, the church has decided not to take out the ‘jhanki’ (passion play), while Way of the Cross will be held around 2pm on church premises on Friday.
Parish priest Fr Lalit Barla OFM Capuchin washed the feet of 12 disciples while leading mass prayer at Padri Ki Haveli in
Patna City.