Nagaland Bishop suspends Sunday mass over coronavirus scare

‘Strictly follow the advisories and instructions of the state and government’

Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 21 (EMN): In the wake of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak across the world, including India, Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima, on Saturday dispensed all the Catholics in Nagaland from the obligation of attending the holy mass on Sundays till March 31.

“Priests will celebrate mass but there will be no obligation to anyone to attend the Eucharist,” the Bishop told Eastern Mirror over the phone.

Meanwhile, he said through a directive from the Bishop’s house in Kohima that “Sunday is the day of the Lord and we are encouraged to keep it holy”. “Even if we do not participate in the holy mass, we are invited to pray. We can read meditatively the word of God, pray the rosary and pray other prayers both individually and as a family,” he stated.

Advisory from Bishop

Bishop Thoppil, who attended the recent North East India Regional Bishops’ Council (NEIRBC) meeting in connection with the coronavirus pandemic in Dibrugarh, issued an advisory to the Catholic community about the virus and the precautions to be taken.

He has asked the Catholic faithful to pray earnestly to God for the elimination of the deadly virus while encouraging them not to panic and advising not to create fear that would create more problems and tensions. The bishop also urged the believers to strictly follow the advisories and instructions of the state and government and do away with large public gatherings.

“Take all precautionary and preventive means to control and prevent the spread of the virus. Anyone with symptoms of cough and breathlessness with or without fever is advised to seek medical assistance and avoid public places,” he informed.

“Avoid handshakes to greet, instead greet each other in other ways. Instruct and conduct awareness programmes for our people — parishioners, students and others — about the coronavirus, its symptoms and signs, ways and means to prevent the spread of it with the help of health experts,” he said.

“Encourage people to wash hands frequently and use respiratory etiquettes like the use of handkerchief, tissue paper over the mouth while coughing and sneezing. Make arrangements of washing of hands with water and soap or the use of any alcohol-based hand rub at public places, like schools, churches or offices,” he added.

“Regularly clean shared surfaces and spaces. Take other measures, as it seem fit in your particular situation and locality to help people live healthy and free from contamination of coronavirus or any other such diseases,” he advised.