Ranchi: Chief minister Hemant Soren on Friday visited the Archbishop House, the official residence of Ranchi archbishop Felix Toppo located on the Purulia Road, to greet him on the occasion of Christmas.
Soren was received by Toppo, auxiliary bishop Theodore Mascarenhas and sisters of the various congregations. Pausing before a crib, especially put up at the entrance of Archbishop House, to mark Christmas, the Ranchi archbishop presented a statue of infant Jesus.
Later, the CM spent about 20 minutes with the archbishop. After the meeting, Soren appealed to the people to abide by the Covid-safety norms while celebrating Christmas.
He said, “Christmas is a time to spread the message of peace and joy. But the threat of Covid still looms large and people need to be careful while celebrating.”
Congress leader and former Union minister Subodh Kant Sahay also called on the archbishop on the occasion.
Meanwhile, at the 113-year-old St Mary’s Cathedral, thousands of faithful gathered to attend the mass. However, the giant crib, depicting the Nativity or the birth of Jesus, put up on the grounds of the cathedral annually, is missing this year. Even the usual decorations are absent, abiding by the directives of the archbishop, who has directed that all churches under his jurisdiction observe an austere Christmas and donate more in charity to help people in distress during the pandemic and the lockdown.
At the 149-year-old St Paul’s Cathedral in Bahubazar, which is administered by the Church of North India, the authorities put up a glass ceiling with blue cloth and fish to make the visitors have an underwater feel with the fish, taking a cue from the Biblical story of Jonah and the Big Fish.
Talking to TOI, Supriya Tirkey, who is overseeing the decorations, said, “Stories in the Bible have a lot of marine connection. In the Bible, God commanded Jonah, a resident of Israel, to go to Nineveh city and start preaching. However, Jonah boarded a ship and tried to get as far away as possible. Angry with him, God sent a storm and the sailors threw Jonah into the waters to save themselves. God then sent a big fish, which swallowed Jonah and kept him alive inside its belly. After three days, the fish vomited Jonah out on dry land. Thankful that his life has been spared, Jonah took up his prophetic mission.”
At the 167-year-old Christ Church, more popularly known as the Gossner Evangelical Lutheran (GEL) Church, arrangements have been made to broadcast live the midnight mass and the church services to prevent overcrowding on the church premises. Decorations at the church were low-key to give out the message of a more austere Christmas. Markings have also been put on the church benches to tell people that they need to maintain social distancing and stay safe while coming to the church.
Soren was received by Toppo, auxiliary bishop Theodore Mascarenhas and sisters of the various congregations. Pausing before a crib, especially put up at the entrance of Archbishop House, to mark Christmas, the Ranchi archbishop presented a statue of infant Jesus.
Later, the CM spent about 20 minutes with the archbishop. After the meeting, Soren appealed to the people to abide by the Covid-safety norms while celebrating Christmas.
He said, “Christmas is a time to spread the message of peace and joy. But the threat of Covid still looms large and people need to be careful while celebrating.”
Congress leader and former Union minister Subodh Kant Sahay also called on the archbishop on the occasion.
Meanwhile, at the 113-year-old St Mary’s Cathedral, thousands of faithful gathered to attend the mass. However, the giant crib, depicting the Nativity or the birth of Jesus, put up on the grounds of the cathedral annually, is missing this year. Even the usual decorations are absent, abiding by the directives of the archbishop, who has directed that all churches under his jurisdiction observe an austere Christmas and donate more in charity to help people in distress during the pandemic and the lockdown.
At the 149-year-old St Paul’s Cathedral in Bahubazar, which is administered by the Church of North India, the authorities put up a glass ceiling with blue cloth and fish to make the visitors have an underwater feel with the fish, taking a cue from the Biblical story of Jonah and the Big Fish.
Talking to TOI, Supriya Tirkey, who is overseeing the decorations, said, “Stories in the Bible have a lot of marine connection. In the Bible, God commanded Jonah, a resident of Israel, to go to Nineveh city and start preaching. However, Jonah boarded a ship and tried to get as far away as possible. Angry with him, God sent a storm and the sailors threw Jonah into the waters to save themselves. God then sent a big fish, which swallowed Jonah and kept him alive inside its belly. After three days, the fish vomited Jonah out on dry land. Thankful that his life has been spared, Jonah took up his prophetic mission.”
At the 167-year-old Christ Church, more popularly known as the Gossner Evangelical Lutheran (GEL) Church, arrangements have been made to broadcast live the midnight mass and the church services to prevent overcrowding on the church premises. Decorations at the church were low-key to give out the message of a more austere Christmas. Markings have also been put on the church benches to tell people that they need to maintain social distancing and stay safe while coming to the church.
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