Biting cold has made churches make special arrangements for the faithful during the midnight and early morning Christmas mass.
Almost all the churches belonging to Catholic, Baptists, Gossner Evangelical Lutheran (GEL) and Church of North India (CNI) in the city will arrange bonfires, tea/coffee and piping hot soup.
Parish priest of St George’s Church (the oldest church in the district), Reverend Deepak Anil Jojo, said members of the church had been requested to distribute used warm clothes and blankets among the poor.
“It is quite cold for the last few days. We will offer coffee and tea apart during the Church services in the early morning of Christmas. Church members have been asked to distribute clothes and blankets among the poor during the days leading to Christmas in keeping with the true meaning of yuletide spirit,” Reverend Jojo said.
St George’s Church comes under Chotanagpur diocese of CNI and the Jamshedpur pastorate looks after the functioning of CNI churches in Sonari, Kitadih, Tuiladungri, Mango, Rahargora, Shankerpur (Parsudih), Sitaramdera, Bagunhatu and Birsanagar.
Father David Vincent, director (schools), Catholic Diocese of Jamshedpur, said the midnight Christmas mass would be performed by Parish priest of St Joseph’s Cathedral in Golmuri, Father Edwin Coelho, on December 24.
“The Parish priest will be praying for the poor and underprivileged who have to face difficult times during severe weather conditions. The sermon will also encourage believers to do their best by donating in cash and kind to the poor. We will also make arrangements for coffee and tea at different points outside the cathedral in Golmuri,” Father David Vincent said.
Similar arrangements will be made at St Mary’s Church in Bistupur, which also comes under Catholic Diocese of Jamshedpur.
Pastor Susharan Bhengra of GEL Church (Sitaramdera) said coffee, tea and hot vegetable soups would be served to those attending the Christmas eve and morning mass.
Beldih Baptist Church (Northern Town, Bistupur), Emmanuel Baptist Church Lupita Church (Telco) and other churches in Mango, Parsudih, Kitadih, Sonari, Birsanagar, Baridih and Kadma will not be an exception.
Shops in commercial hubs of Sakchi and Bistupur are overflowing with Christmas decorations.
“Besides Christmas trees, Santa masks, caps and costumes, there is a good demand for fake snowballs, stars, cribs and Xmas hair bands,” said Vishal Thakker of Vijay Bhandar in Bistupur.
East Singhbhum senior superintendent of police Anoop Birtharay said all police stations had been been asked to intensify night vigil on the approach roads to churches on December 24 and 25. “There will be entry curbs on heavy vehicles into the city on those two days,” he said.