The Archbishop of Ende, Vincentius Sensi Potokota, issued instructions to stop all ecclesiastical or religious activities involving many people from Friday (20/3) to Friday (3/4).
The announcement of the leader of the Catholic community in the Ende, Nagekeo and Ngada districts of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) was issued in order to prevent the spread of the covid-19 viruses.
The bishop appealed for the people to support every form of rescue action with faith and prayer.
"So my pastor is called upon you to decide the following points. As of today, Friday 20 March 2020 to Friday 3 April 2020, all ecclesiastical agendas involving many people are abolished, "Archbishop Ende said in an official statement this week.
In this direction, all church activities such as daily Mass, Sunday Mass, spirit mass and other memorial services, the sacrament of penance and confession, devotion to the way of the cross, obligatory prayers, and any other prayer meetings must be stopped, bishop Potokota added.
"In faith and prayer, everyone is required to implement safe daily behavior for himself and others around him, so that together we can prevent the transmission of the covid-19 virus," Archbishop Ende said.
He hopes that people can apply very practical and easy guidelines. For example, about the importance of maintaining a safe distance for direct social contact.
The importance of self-isolation and quarantine independently and the importance of keeping healthy with food and vitamin intake for endurance and the importance of gathering family food reserves but with an attitude of love and compassion.
The decision to stop the Mass in the Archdiocese of Ende was the first diocese in the province of East Nusa Tenggara, which took rapid steps to stop the spread of the corona virus.
The decision to stop church activities by bishop Ende is in line with the decision of the Indonesian government to stop religious activities involving many people.
"It's time to learn from home, work from home and worship at home," President Jokowi said in his official statement this weekend.
Author: Antonius Rahu
