After The Good Friday Service At The Jakarta Cathedral, The Congregation: It Feels So Different Now

Catholics at the Jakarta Cathedral Church (Photo: Wardhany Tsa Tsia / VOI)

JAKARTA - The tri holy day service carried out by Catholics, especially Good Friday, feels different in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was told by a congregation of the Jakarta Cathedral Church who had just finished attending the service at 15.00 WIB, Friday, April 2.

Apart from being quieter, there are a number of health protocols that must be adhered to in order to prevent transmission of the virus among the congregations who attend. "It feels really different, it was quiet inside because it was limited," William said during a conversation with VOI, Friday, April 2.

This is the first time William has worshiped in person at church. Because, during the COVID-19 pandemic, all worship was carried out online. This 27-year-old man told of the initial procession before he started the Good Friday service.

William said that he first registered on the site provided by the Jakarta Archdiocese to get a QR Code, which is a requirement for entry into the Jakarta Cathedral Church.

"Then the barcode scan came, after that check the temperature before entering," he said.

Furthermore, when in the church, health protocols are also carried out by guarding the distance. William said that the atmosphere was also quiet compared to the worship before the pandemic occurred and the procession was also different.

"There is no kissing the cross, because then it sticks. So earlier it felt more like a prayer together," he explained.

As previously reported, the PR of the Jakarta Cathedral Church, Susiana Suwandie, said that the implementation of the tri holy day commemoration service is a little different in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of them is the elimination of the procession of kissing the cross during Good Friday services.

The procession of kissing the cross is a form of respect by Catholics. If normally, one by one the people would come forward and kiss the cross, this procession changed amidst the pandemic.

"During the pandemic, the cross is honored from each place (congregation seats, red). Officers only lift the cross in the front area and all people respect from their respective places," Susiana told reporters at the Jakarta Cathedral Church, Friday, April 2.

In addition, the Jakarta Cathedral Church has also cut down the worship time. "During this pandemic, it was shortened but it did not reduce the meaning and devotion. For example, the usual 90 minutes of worship can be shorter, which is 60 minutes," he said.

The Jakarta Cathedral Church only provides 309 seats for the congregation or 20 percent of the church capacity. This was done in order to follow the rules for preventing transmission of COVID-19.

Congregations must also register themselves first on the website of the Jakarta Archdiocese. As for the series of Good Friday worship events today, two sessions will be held, namely 15.00 WIB and 18.00 WIB.