Jakarta Archdiocese Asks Church Mass To Be Temporarily Stopped

ILLUSTRATION/BETWEEN

JAKARTA - The Jakarta Archdiocese (KAJ) has asked 21 parishes in the DKI Jakarta area and its surroundings to temporarily stop worship activities such as offline mass following the issuance of a circular letter restricting activities in places of worship from the Ministry of Religion.

"Based on a circular from the Ministry of Religion, the Archdiocese of Jakarta issued a decree No. 295/3.5.1.2/2021 in the form of several notes and decisions which are the result of joint confirmation by the Bishop and the KAJ Curia," said KAJ Secretary Adi Prasojo, quoted by Antara, Friday June 18.

Adi said the decision to temporarily stop a number of worship activities was due to the recent massive spread of COVID-19 and the spread of new variants.

Therefore, Adi asked all parishes whose areas were categorized as red and orange zones for the transmission of COVID-19 to follow all directives issued by both the government and the KAJ.

"Continuing monitoring by the parish TGK (control group team) by always having discussions with the parish TGK," he said.

There are also services that are temporarily suspended apart from offline mass, namely the sacrament of Baptism, Confirmation, and the reception of First Communion.

"KAJ will always monitor developments and will inform the time to restart the offline mass and sacrament services according to the direction of the government," said Adi.

Previously, Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas had issued Circular Letter No. 13 of 2021 concerning Restrictions on the Implementation of Religious Activities in Houses of Worship.

The Minister of Religion explained that religious activities in red zone areas were temporarily suspended until the area was declared safe from COVID-19. The determination of the change in the zone area is carried out by the respective regional governments.

"Socio-religious and community activities, such as public recitations, gatherings, weddings, and the like in the multipurpose room within the house of worship are also temporarily suspended in the red and orange zones until conditions permit," said the Minister of Religion.

Meanwhile, worship activities at places of worship in areas that are declared safe from the spread of COVID-19, may only be carried out by residents of the local environment while still implementing strict COVID-19 health protocol standards.