CNI churches to live-stream special worship sessions

Kolkata, Apr 4 () With public gatherings banned dueto the coronavirus outbreak, the Church of North India(Diocese of Kolkata) has decided to go for live-streaming sothat members of the community can join from home the specialworship sessions, lined up till Good Friday and Easter.

The CNI has decided on webcasting live-services duringthe Holy Week, starting this Sunday, a spokesman said onSaturday.

"While meetings, seminars, choir practices, whichinvolves large gatherings, have been cancelled, themass/prayer sessions have to continue and accordingly we haveinstructed all parish churches under our order to go forwebcasting of he holy events," the spokesman said.

The Holy Week, starts on Sunday (April 5) and ends onnext Sunday (April 12), the day of Easter.

Special prayers will be held on April 5, 9, 10 (GoodFriday) and 12 (Easter Sunday) and all will be streamed liveon YouTube from the Bishops House.

The spokesman said services had never been live-streamed in this fashion before the lockdown, as the situationdid not warrant so.

"This time we feel the need to make community membersfeel together," he said.

On March 29, in a live streaming appeal to members ofthe community, Bishop Paritosh Canning of CNI, Kolkata askedeveryone to be on guard against the coronavirus, "which hasintruded into the territories of our state and country, andexpressed firm belief that Jesus Christ will save us all fromthis pandemic."

The special session had also called upon devotees tooffer prayers to Jesus to defeat the coronavirus "evil".

The Archdiocese of Calcutta on Friday said massservices during the Holy Week (from April 5 till 12) will belive streamed from the Archbishop's house. SUSRG RG