The three parishes are getting organized for the celebrations on December 24 and 25: more masses and priests, compulsory barrier gestures and a limited presence gauge.
The Christmas marathon has started! To maintain these ceremonies, the parishes of Saint-Paul Coeur d’Hérault (Clermontais sector), Saint-Benoît Val d’Erau (Gignac sector) and Saint-Fulcran en Lodévois are organizing themselves: increased masses, reinforcement of priests, video broadcast … Everything is in place for this great Christmas gathering which brings together many faithful each year.
A real puzzle
In addition to the usual rules of distancing, there is the presence gauge in places of worship: one row out of two, one chair in three and two seats of separation between groups of people. A real puzzle!
In Lodève, Father Camille Sessou is worried: “I hope we don’t have to turn people down!” To avoid getting there, he has planned everything: “We will add more chairs in the chapels. People, without seeing the altar, will be able to share the ceremony.”
As for the people who cannot be present: “The 6 p.m. mass will be broadcast on the site www.jeunes.lergue.herault.fr.”
Volunteers responsible for curbing entry
Ten masses instead of the usual six planned for the parish of Saint-Paul. “We are lucky to be able to meet thanks to the law on freedom of worship, we adapt to the imposed gauge”, indicates Father Laurent Harmandon. And it is not a given! The Clermont church alone attracts up to 600 worshipers every Christmas; this year, the maximum tonnage will be 130 per galley. In front of churches, volunteers will be responsible for curbing entry. Father Harmandon does not hide his dismay: “It hurts. It’s not a happy situation, especially if we have to send people away without offering another possibility for Christmas.”
Father Louis Lignon, from the parish of Saint-Benoît Val d’Erau, is also “ready to maintain the tradition of welcoming Christmas while respecting the rules of physical distancing”. Five additional offices have been set up to facilitate the flow. The celebration of the Nativity remains an important moment according to him: “People have a great adaptability and a tremendous capacity for resilience. They need to come to church and find each other, especially at this time.”
As for the Christmas quest, it will not take place during masses but at the entrance to churches. Rest assured, despite these changes, we can still hear the Nativity bells ringing!
–
