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COVID-19: Annual Easter Parade in East Nusa Tenggara canceled
Timor Evangelical Church has officially canceled the 26th Easter Parade in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, which was set to be held on Apr. 13.
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Christians stage a rally to call for peace and harmony during the 2018 Easter parade on Jl. MH Thamrin, Central Jakarta, on April 1. (Antara/Puspa Perwitasari)
T
imor Evangelical Church (GMIT) has officially canceled the 26th Easter Parade in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, which was set to be held on Apr. 13. The city's annual celebration, which has always attracted thousands of parishioners from hundreds of churches, has been halted over COVID-19 concerns.
"It is a very tough decision but this is what needed to be done to curb the spread of COVID-19," the head of the Synodal Assembly of GMIT, priest Merry Kolimon said on Friday, adding that big events related to Easter, which attract crowds, would be postponed until further notice.
He also called on churches to pay more attention to vulnerable age groups, such as the elderly and children, as a precautionary measure against COVID-19.
"If the situation gets worse, churches need to tell their parishioners to pray at home while maintaining close communication with the head of the church," he suggested.
According to priest Merry, the 2020 Easter celebration should be defined as a chance to build family cohesion and solidarity across the nation.
In addition to the cancellation of the Easter Parade, the GMIT has also postponed an ordination Mass for 22 newly elected vicars, which was scheduled to be held on Sunday. The ordination was planned to be held in two places, namely the Policarpus Atambua church-Belu synod and Petrus Ombok church-Northwestern Rote synod.
The GMIT's move to cancel and postpone events was lauded by the head of East Nusa Tenggara's Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Abdul Kadir Makarim, who supported the precautionary measures being enforced in the region.
"Religious events that involve crowds must be canceled," he said.
In accordance with the GMIT, the MUI East Nusa Tenggara has also advised local residents not to conduct Friday prayers at mosques, which involve crowds, in the country’s battle against COVID-19. (trn)
