Aurangabad, Dec 23:
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, churches in the city will have low key Christmas celebrations this year. The traditional midnight mass on December 24 will not be held. But the worship will take place in the evening instead of at midnight. Similarly, instead of a single community prayer on December 25, there will be short-term prayers at regular intervals from the morning.
At Christ Church, the prayer will be held on December 24 from 6 pm to 6:40 pm and 7 pm to 7:40 pm and on December 25 from 7 am to 7:40 am and 8 am to 8:40 am, 9 am to 9:40 am, 10 am to 10:40 am, 11 am to 11:40 am and 12 noon to 12:40 pm. Reverend Ranjan Rathore and Rev S S Battise will conduct prayers. Prayers will be held at St Philips Church on December 24 at 6:30 pm and on December 25 at 8 am and 10:30 am. Rev Sushil Ghule, Rev Vilas Nade, Rev Akshay Ghule and Rev Anant Khandagle will conduct prayers. Holy Mass will be offered on December 24 at St Francis de Sales Cathedral in English at 6 am and in Marathi at 8 am. Holy Mass will be offered on December 25 at 6:30 am in English, 7:30 am in Marathi and 8:30 am in English. Pastor Sanjay Nirmal will offer prayers in English at Paithan Gate, Pastor Joseph Shrisunder at Royal Court in Hindi and Pastor Nitin Shrisunder will offer prayer at Station Road on behalf of New Life Movement International.