Churches packed to the brim for Christmas services – Times of India

KOLKATA: After two pandemic years of Christmas church services with limited or virtual attendance, record crowds filled up Kolkata’s cathedrals, churches and parishes this year. On Sunday, Christian and non-Christian attendees alike celebrated the first traditional Christmas without Covid restrictions.
Director of Chitrabani Kolkata Father PJ Joseph said, “There were over 100 people attending the midnight mass, of whom, half were non-Christian. They had come out of a desire to be with us to share in our joy.”
President of Catholic Association of Bengal (CAB) Angelina Mantosh Jasnani said that in all of the churches she attended, around 30% of the crowd was non-Christian.
Father Basil Mandi, the parish priest of Church of Christ the King in Park Circus, said, “We had a full house. So, in order to accommodate more people, we put up a giant screen on our church lawns, with 200 chairs, so that more members could be part of the midnight service.”
At Church of Our Lady of Happy Voyage, Howrah, Father Devraj Fernandes said, “The church was packed during mass. There were people standing outside as well.”
Many Christians thanked Kolkata Police for its effective management of an eager, but wary, crowd outside city churches. “The police handled the situation very well. Cops were providing round-the-clock security and managing the crowds,” said Jasnani.
Father Mandi said, “Two cops from Beniapukur PS were present to take care of the crowd at night. Even during the day, we had two policemen and one policewoman on our premises. I am thankful to the cops for taking care of the security. I had announced about masking up, but it is difficult for us to ensure that all follow the suggestion.”
The Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Calcutta Father Dominic Gomes also thanked the police who were present at the packed St Francis Xavier’s Church during the midnight mass. “Some of the people attending were wearing masks,” he said.
“This time, the numbers were qute high as people came with their families from neighbouring districts to celebrate the festival in Kolkata,” said Rangan Dutta, church officer at St John’s Church.
Apart from midnight mass, most churches, even the smallest ones, also renewed the performance of traditional Christmas carols by church choirs. The massive crowds outside the church gates enjoyed nostalgic melodies in public spaces after two years.
Father Gomes said that carols were performed an hour before the midnight mass.