By Herald Malaysia
Dec 19 2020
After monitoring the current public health situation in the Archdiocese and having considered the recommendations given by the Archdiocesan Crisis Management Task Force (hereinafter called the Task Force), His Grace, Archbishop Julian Leow has decided to suspend all public Masses in all parishes, churches, chapels and Mass centres in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur from the eve of Christmas (Dec 24, 2020) until the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (Jan 3, 2021).
His Grace recognises that the Christmas season is one of the most important and sacred times in our Church’s liturgical calendar and he fully understands the passion and devotion of the faithful who wish to come together in public celebration, but he has come to this difficult decision by having cognisance of the following factors:
1. Although the Church has been both prudent and cautious in implementing public safety recommendations as well as additional protocols proposed by the Task Force, such measures may be inadequate to address additional risks imposed by the expected large crowds for Christmas and the difficulty of complying with additional restrictions from the public health authorities (e.g. limit in numbers allowed to attend Masses etc).
2. Due to relaxation of interstate travel restrictions and with the expected increase in visitors returning to their hometowns or travelling to holiday destinations during the holidays, contact listing and pre-registration for Masses may be rendered exceedingly difficult if not impossible.
3. Even though the MKN and state authorities may choose to relax their restrictions, the hike in sporadic cases and emergence of new clusters in these past few weeks increase the risks of transmission in closed-door large gatherings such as a public Mass.
Please be reminded that all the faithful within the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur have been dispensed by His Grace from the obligation of participating in Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.
Masses for the Christmas season will be live streamed from https://Tv.ArchKL.org and the faithful are encouraged to follow these Masses faithfully with due reverence.
As much as many of us look forward to a return to some degree of normalcy and seek to spend this holy season in the company of our loved ones as we offer worship to God, His Grace, Archbishop Leow continues to exhort each of you to be vigilant, not only for your personal safety but also for the benefit of those you love.
Fr Michael Chua Chancellor
Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur
Dec 17, 2020
