A Sombre Easter Sunday during Lockdown! With Churches Closed, Faithful Heard Mass Online & TV
Mangaluru: Never in the history of the “Rome of the East”, that is Mangaluru, has been such a dull Easter Week and Easter Sunday, and the faithful are coping with it, with no other option. Easter looks very different this year, with no church gatherings, no fun shopping spree, and no celebratory meals with extended family and friends. Thousands of followers of Christianity in this “Rome of the East” (Mangaluru) were separated from their faith due to coronavirus, but this Easter was also a chance for renewal. This was one of the toughest Holy Weeks in history.
This Easter 2020 will perhaps be the most subdued in recent history. The season of Lent has always called for introspection and a deeper reflection on one’s personal faith, but this year, it has been marked with a greater empathy for those in suffering and need. Cutting across denominational divides, all churches in the city stopped services three weeks ago and resorted to online sermons, in keeping with the need of the hour. But for people who attend church regularly, there’s nothing like the real thing — whether its the quiet happiness of Palm Sunday, the solemnity of Good Friday, or all-out rejoicing on Easter Sunday. “I miss taking part in the Holy Communion. Apart from being a symbol of my faith, it is the reason why Easter is celebrated; it marks the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,” says 79-year-old Mary D’souza. “So even though today (Easter Sunday), I heard the sermon online, the happiness of sharing it with others was sorely missed,” she added.
EASTER MASS/CELEBRATIONS IN 2019
Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese, Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha in his message to all the churches and parishioners, had said that community ceremonies and observances of the season like the washing of the feet, Passion of Christ and the celebrations have been been suspended until lockdown is lifted. The Bishop had advised people to observe the symbolic gestures of confession and communion in a spiritual manner by practicing humility and subservience among family members, and he also said, “There are special prayers going out for the afflicted and for all those serving the nation in this crisis. Despite everything, it is still a season of hope that has brought people closer.”
EASTER MASS/CELEBRATIONS IN 2020
Several churches in the City, including Rosario Cathedral did live streaming of their Good Friday and Easter services on YouTube and Facebook. “Every year, we witness maximum attendance during our Good Friday and Easter services. During this lockdown period, we have been engaging with our congregation through our website and our social media handles like YouTube and Facebook with great success,” said Fr Clifford Pinto, the Assistant Parish Priest of Bondel St Lawrence Church. The Easter Vigil Mass was celebrated by Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha, along with Fr J B Crasta-the Parish Priest and Fr Flavian Lobo, Assistant Parish Priest respectively, of Rosario Cathedral, on Saturday, 11 April 2020 at Rosario Cathedral, Mangaluru at 7 pm, and it was telecast live on Divine World TV Channel. (Ref: FIRST Time In History Of ‘Rome Of The East’ Easter Mass Celebrated By Bishop Without Faithful Participation ) This morning on Easter Sunday, the Bishop celebrated Mass at the Bishop’s House, and was streamed online/TV. Also at other churches Easter Vigil mass and Easter Sunday mass was held, and streamed via TV or online, and thus the church venues/pews were empty.
Easter is the high point of the Christian year – and thousands of believers here spent it separated from their clergy, their churches and their liturgies. It was like as if a body had been dislocated. The Bible talks about the church as a spiritual family, so being apart from each other is very strange. It brings a sense of grief and mourning. Across Mangaluru, people are only allowed to leave their homes for essential shopping, to attend key jobs or take part in one element of exercise, and govt and district admin has been advising people to follow the social distancing guidelines. Not being able to take part in a traditional Easter has made many feel disheartened, however many are finding ways to spend time with loved ones. Social distancing when you live away from your friends and family can be a huge struggle, especially during celebrations such as Easter when you would usually be around your loved ones. But nothing much could be done, when you have to take prevention against this deadly disease.
But in the present situation we shouldn’t let this spoil any Easter traditions and instead, we should try to adapt our plans to make sure we still feel connected with our loved ones. During this lockdown, why not use this time to start new traditions from the comfort of our own homes and celebrate the Easter in style, but keeping our health safe. While Easter Sunday is all about a big lunch spread, but this year the lunch may not be as wide array like last year. Whether you are among the devout or one who makes a guest appearance, festive food is the hallmark of any special day. This year has seen a dip in orders for season goodies, be it hot cross buns, Easter eggs or meat. “There is shortage of fresh supplies and raw material to make these items. Customers too, are ordering in lesser quantities this time. The reduction in demand also has to do with Easter being a pared-down affair this year, with extended family members and friends stranded in different parts of the city. This year we made only small quantities of Easter eggs and Hot cross buns” said Bryan Vas, proprietor of Vas and Son, Bendore, Mangaluru-
Churches have turned to streaming services, with pews empty of their usual congregation. The lockdown has put a damper on Easter celebrations. It has forced families to make do with whatever is available at the moment. Easter Sunday is usually a time of celebration but these are scary and uncertain times. IT professional Jason P from Kottayyam, Kerala staying as paying guest in a Mangaluru Catholic family in Bejai, is thankful that there’s at least technology to fall back on during these hard times. He says, “It is disconcerting to be away from loved ones, and not being able to attend church service adds to the annoyance.” Apart from the online service, he is planning to hold a prayer meeting with friends later.
Easter, or Resurrection Sunday, is a festival and holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day after his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary in 30 AD. It is the culmination of the Passion of Jesus, preceded by Lent (or Great Lent), a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance. Most Christians refer to the week before Easter as “Holy Week”, which contains the days of the Easter Triduum, including Maundy Thursday, commemorating the Maundy and Last Supper, as well as Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Easter customs vary across the Christian world, and include sunrise services, exclaiming the Paschal greeting, clipping the church, and decorating Easter eggs (symbols of the empty tomb). The Easter lily, a symbol of the resurrection, traditionally decorates the chancel area of churches on this day and for the rest of Easter-tide.
Team Mangalorean wishes our readers Easter greetings – “Happy Easter to you and your family. May you enjoy a joyful and lovely Easter holiday filled with the Lord’s contentment”.
