DILI, 30 december 2020 (TATOLI)– Dili Archbishop, Dom Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, revealed that the Timorese Episcopal Conference (CET) decided that the Religious ceremonies for the new year will be attended at home, via television or Radio., in december 31 and January 1st.
“The decision is due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus in the country. I ask priests to read and publicize the Papal Decree on the covid-19,” Dom Carmo said at a press conference in Lecidere, Dili.
The decision is based on the decree draft, the bishops have decided that all liturgical celebrations between December 31 and January 1 will not have the religious participation.
Christians will be able to attend the celebrations at home, when the mass is broadcast on radio and television, at 8:00 pm and 8:00 am. In this way, “they will not receive Eucharistic communion, but spiritual”. Priest said.
The Archbishop also recalled that normally mass without communion is not completed, but due to the current situation and the world calamity, Church dismisses Christians from communion and invites them in the spiritual communion.
“To avoid the danger of the contagion, priests were asked to strictly follow the guidelines and decisions from the Pope and CET,” he said.
Dom Virgílio also said that convents, seminarians and religious communities will carry out the celebration, “among its members”.
“We do what we can at the present time and what we cannot leave in the hands of God. I ask each citizen to be responsible for life of every people,” he said.
It is recalled that the Catholic Church in Timor-Leste, in March of this year, asked Christians to follow Easter celebrations through television and radio due to the emergence of the new coronavirus in the country.
Timor-Leste has so far reported 44 cases of the new coronavirus, including 13 active infections, with 31 patients have recovered.
Journalist: Osoria Marques
Editor:Cancio Ximenes
