All public masses cancelled in Kuala Lumpur due to COVID-19
Archbishop Julian Leow suspends services in person, boosts online access. “[C]ontact listing and pre-registration for Mass may become exceedingly difficult if not impossible,” he says. “I am also grateful for online Masses and that we are kept safe from the pandemic,” says a parishioner.
Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews) – Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley are boosting controls to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, which has been spreading in recent weeks.
Archbishop Julian Leow has decided that public Masses in all 40 parishes and 20 chapels in his archdiocese will be suspended from Christmas Eve until 3 January, plus Epiphany.
In a statement issued by Archdiocese Chancellor Fr Michael Chua, Archbishop Leow says that although the Church had taken the necessary measures to prevent the spread of the virus, such measures are inadequate, especially in managing large gatherings.
The statement reads: “Due to the relaxation of interstate travel restrictions and with the expected increase in visitors returning to their hometowns or travelling during the holidays, contact listing and pre-registration for Mass may become exceedingly difficult if not impossible.”
It goes on to say: “Even though the National Security Council and state authorities may choose to relax their restrictions, the hike in sporadic cases and emergence of new clusters over the past few weeks increases the risks of transmission in closed-door large gatherings such as a public Mass.”
As an alternative, Archbishop Leow is encouraging churchgoers to follow Mass online via the Archdiocese’s YouTube channel. What is more, he reminds Catholics to be vigilant in keeping themselves and their loved ones safe from COVID-19.
The decision may come as no surprise to Catholics who have been preparing to celebrate Christmas in a special way, especially after they spent almost an entire year following Mass online.
Parishioner Daphne Jackson, 46, said that she had somewhat accepted that Christmas Mass would likely be an online affair.
“If we are allowed to be physically present at church, I would rush to register myself and my family because I know there will be a limit imposed on the number of people allowed in church,“ she said.
Another parishioner identified only as Pam, 62, is prepared for a quieter Christmas in 2020 but is grateful for her family’s company at home.
“I am disappointed that there will be no Christmas Mass this year, but I am also grateful for online Masses and that we are kept safe from the pandemic.”
Earlier this month, the government extended the conditional MCO (Movement Control Order in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
In recent weeks, Selangor has often registered the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country.
Many churches in the Klang Valley have had to hold Masses and religious services online after the area was put under conditional MCO, which is scheduled to end on Sunday.
For its part, the Christ Evangelical Reformed Church (CERC) in Sunway has decided to celebrate Christmas entirely online.
“Not even a pandemic should mute Christmas celebrations this year,” it said, adding that virtual platforms had enabled the church to reach more believers.
The church has planned several programmes for the young and old, including virtual Christmas carols and a puppet show.
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