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Christmas Celebrations 2021: To celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Christian community gathered for Holy Mass and worship in churches on Saturday early morning hours. Community members celebrated the birthday by cutting a cake in a few catholic churches of the city.

To celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Christian community gathered for Holy Mass and worship in churches on Saturday early morning hours. Community members celebrated the birthday by cutting a cake in a few catholic churches of the city.
Most churches saw a small gathering in the church, where holy mass was offered to Christ.
After this, the gates of churches were closed again for the day so that the crowd did not gather. Only limited devotees were able to worship in the church at a time.
Churches will now open for visitors on December 26, 27 and 28. Keeping in mind the social distancing, stickers are placed on the benches in the St Francis Assisi Cathedral (Red Church).
Bishop Chacko Thottumarickal SVD in his address said, “Just as the whole world is currently waiting for the vaccine or drugs to beat covid-19, similarly mankind was saved from the epidemic of sin years ago by Jesus Christ.”
Technically, Christmas celebrations commenced on December 16 with novena to the nativity of Jesus.
At St Joseph Church, Nanda Nagar, Reverend Father Thomas Rajamanikam was the main celebrant and Father Naveen Das was the con-celebrant.
Mahima Francis read the first reading and Nitin Jadav read the second reading. During the Gloria, the statue of the child Jesus was unveiled and enthroned in the crib which remarks the birth of our lord Jesus.
Fr Thomas said, “Christmas gives the message of truth, life and salvation. The saviour is born to save us from sin and grant us eternal life. Hence it renders joy and happiness.”
He added that baby Jesus was born in a stable, so that all may learn to sanctify every environment. “Christ was born in simplicity so that we stop being complicated. Jesus was born poor that we may regard as the only wealth,” Fr Thomas said.
“Christmas is an occasion to show our love and care for the poor and underprivileged by sharing our surplus resources with such people who are needy,” Fr Pious Cyriac SVD said at St Arnold’s Church.
Joseph Mangeskar, Jacinta Jangra, and Lawrence Masih read prayers for the faithful. Sunil Raphael offered the message of gratitude.
All the devotees participating in the festivities enjoyed the get-together after the prayers with a piece of cake and were served coffee.
All the people wished each other Happy Christmas. Devotees were strictly instructed to follow covid-19 controlling protocol.
Around 500 people had participated in the Christmas celebrations at night. Morning celebration was at 8 am, which was attended by 200 people.

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