JAKARTA (UCAN): The archdioceses of Jakarta and Samarinda reopened their churches at the start of June after local authorities began easing social restrictions imposed to combat the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic.
In a livestreamed press conference on June 4, the governor of Jakarta, Anies Baswedan, said, “Religious activities may resume starting on June 5. All mosques, churches as well as Buddhist and Hindu temples can be reopened but only for regular activities,” adding, “All places of worship must obey health protocols.”
The easing of restrictions in East Kalimantan province, which covers the Archdiocese of Samarinda, started on June 1, but people were expected to continue to wear facemasks and maintain social distancing.
“Parishes may resume public Sunday Masses starting June 6 and 7,” Archbishop Yustinus Harjosusanto of Samarinda, said in a letter on June 3.
“For a certain period, Eucharistic celebrations can be held only at parish churches. Eucharistic celebrations and worship held without priests at mission station churches and in neighbourhood communities are still suspended until a further decision is made by the archdiocese,” the archbishop said.
He added that people must wear face masks and undergo temperature tests before entering a church and parishes had to provide hand sanitiser.
Worship venues had to also be disinfected prior to a Mass and social distancing had to be observed.
Archbishop Harjosusanto called on parish pastoral councils to report on their preparations before holding their first Mass.
“For parishes based in municipalities and districts, the report should be sent to mayors and district chiefs. For other parishes, their report should be sent to sub-district heads,” he said.
According to the vicar general of the archdiocese, Father Moses Komela Avan, nine of its 26 parishes, including St. Mary of Perpetual Help Cathedral, were ready to resume Sunday Masses.
“We are preparing everything we need,” Father Avan, who is also the cathedral parish priest, said. He added that parishioners are looking forward to the reopening of the cathedral church.
“We understand the safety measures and do not want our church to become a new coronavirus transmission cluster,” he said.
Referring to physical distancing for the Masses, Father Avan said he divided parishioners into four groups of 1,000 and will hold four separate Masses to prevent overcrowding
As of June 3, East Kalimantan province had 310 out of 28,233 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Indonesia. The country had recorded 1,698 deaths.
