Dear Parishioners,
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has released fresh directives to control the spread of COVID 19, yesterday evening.
As per the directives, the places of worship will be strictly monitored. The maximum number of people who can gather at the place of worship has been restricted to 50. This restriction of 50 people will include the priests and all those who volunteer to help in the Church and the congregation. Any violation of this restriction will result in punitive action and prosecution.
We have been touch with the local police and have been informed that the directives are implemented with immediate effect and all celebrations planned for today in Mumbai on the occasion of Shivaji Jayanti have been restricted to comply with the directives.
We called an emergency meeting of the PPC Executive Committee today morning, to explore the options available and since the directives are in force, it has been decided to cancel all the services at the Church with immediate effect and work at restoring the Masses as soon as possible.
Please note that Mass at the Church and Stations of the Cross today evening (19th Feb 2021) , and all three Masses on Saturday (20th Feb 2021) have been cancelled. We will record the Masses for Sunday (22nd Feb 2021) and broadcast the same on the Parish YouTube Channel.
During the period of Lent, we do understand the need for parishioners to attend Masses at the Church. The Parish Team and the PPC Executive Committee are working, to put in place, a registration process with increased number of Masses so that parishioners have the opportunity to attend Mass at the Church inspite of the restrictions. Once we are ready we will announce the schedule and the process for registration. Please bear with the inconvenience caused by the sudden change in the directives.
It is important that the message, that Masses at the Church are cancelled with effect from today evening, be communicated to all the parishioners. Please treat this message as urgent and important and circulate the same widely within your communities and groups. Please also inform those who do not have access to WhatsApp and those who are not able to read messages in English.
We intend to start the Masses at the Church as soon as possible and will inform you once the process is put in place. Please bear with us till then.
Let us pray for a quick control of disease and a return to normal soon.
Fr. (Dr.) Francis Carvalho
Parish Priest
OLRC, Goregaon West.