A file image of Sri Lankan Catholic Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Ranjith during a Mass attended by Easter Sunday attack survivors on the occasion of the reopening of St. Anthony s Church in Colombo on June 12, 2019. Sri Lanka s bombed Catholic church was reconsecrated on June 12 that year with a prayer for a strong national leader to punish those responsible for the Easter attacks that killed 258. (Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP via LiCAS.news)
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo urged Catholics in Sri Lanka to celebrate Christmas with family and to observe the day with faith, especially in the middle of the pandemic.
Requests Catholics to keep celebrations within family and help those affected by COVID-19
Church services including midnight mass on Christmas Eve will be limited to 50 persons along with adherence to strict health regulations, Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said yesterday.
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith addressing the media yesterday
Hourly Christmas services in Catholic churches will begin at 6 p.m. on 24 December in place of the usual single midnight service to enable devotees to attend church while adhering to health guidelines, Cardinal Ranjith told reporters at a press briefing.
“Christmas masses will be arranged by parish priests according to the needs of each parish subjected to health guidelines. I request Catholics not to move from district to district to visit relatives due to the heightened risk of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.