Jakarta Archdiocese Suggests Congregations Not To Go Home For Christmas

Secretary General of the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Romo Vincentius Adi Prasojo (Screenshot of the COVID-19 Confectionery Task Force discussion at Graha BNPB / Antara)

JAKARTA - Secretary General of the Jakarta Archdiocese, Father Vincentius Adi Prasojo, advised Catholics not to travel or go home before the Christmas and New Year holidays amid the increasing number of new cases of COVID-19.

"Advise the congregation not to travel, not go home, stay at home, stay at home, stay at home, online if necessary," said Father Vincentius Adi Prasojo in a discussion on the COVID-19 Confectionary Task Force at Graha BNPB, Jakarta, as reported Between, Monday, December 21.

He conveyed this while reminding the congregation to celebrate Christmas in a quiet and simple atmosphere when the Catholic church makes various adjustments regarding the holding of Christmas services.

According to Father Adi, the church is paying attention to various circular letters issued by the Ministry of Religion, the COVID-19 Handling Task Force and the DKI Jakarta provincial government regarding the holding of Christmas services.

One of the adjustments was that the Jakarta Cathedral simplified the process and reduced the worship time from two hours to one hour. They also reduced the number allowed to attend church in person, to 20 percent of capacity, with congregants having to register online first.

On the same occasion, the Medical Director of PGI Cikini Hospital, dr. Inolyn Panjaitan warned that there is a risk of clusters of spreading COVID in the family if you celebrate together and do not follow strict health protocols.

Inolyn reminded that, in the family cluster, if a family member is infected with COVID-19, there is a possibility that other family members will be infected.

He suggested avoiding eating and drinking with family or Christmas banquets, because by then the masks would be removed and increase the risk of exposure to COVID-19.

"In a pandemic era like this there are also more cases. If possible, family gatherings are minimized. Maybe just online, or if you do get together, everyone wear masks, keep their distance and wash their hands," he said.