So what is the life of a parish priest in lockdown times?
Fr. Peter Thumma, senior parish priest at Our Lady of Light Church in Luz follows his religious routine and stays indoors.
He joins his assistant priest to say Mass in the heritage church which was recently restored.
“All priests are mandated to say Mass once daily and we hold a private Mass here,” says the priest who resides in a Madras-terrace house in the church campus. “Parish people cannot participate because of the lockdown.”
He says he gets a few calls in his office – of members of his flock discussing wedding plans ahead, of seniors who like some warm words.
He says he has not got any SOS calls from families of people who are very sick and want the sacrament of Holy Communion. “People also understand the situation but we are ready to respond if direly needed,” says the senior priest.
Has he had calls to reach out to people in need in the Luz area? “We would like to help the needy but the conditions are not conducive,” says Fr Thumma.
Since all churches are closed and services suspended, the community like all over the world will have to make do with webcast services during the Holy Week of Len – starting with Palm Sunday this Sunday and ending with Easter next Sunday.
“We are asking people to participate in the Masses webcast on Madha TV,” says Fr Thumma.
- File photo used in this report
