People in the city celebrated Christmas at the stroke of midnight on Sunday as churches held special masses to signify the birth of Jesus Christ and to spread the message of love and universal peace.
The churches in the city were specially decorated for the occasion as Christians started to gather at the church in the night to participate in the candle-lighting ceremony and the prayer that followed. Christmas trees and stars and depicted the scene of nativity.
The St. Joseph's Cathedral in Golmuri, the biggest church had one of the biggest crowds of more than 2000 people attending the midnight mass at night.
Bishop Father Felix Toppo at the prayer service in midnight led the child Jesus and placed him on the crib inside the church. The carol singing at the St. Joseph's Cathedral in Golmuri and other Roman Catholic churches started between 10:30 pm and 11 pm yesterday. Missionary schools like Sacred Heart Convent School, Carmel Junior College and other schools have also been decked up for Christmas followed by New Year.
" We pray to almighty for universal peace. Christmas spreads the message of love and peace. It is about letting us learn to live in peace and harmony accepting that we all are God's Children," said Father David Vincent, vicar general, The Catholic Diocese of Jamshedpur.
Most of the Catholic churches like lupita Hall in Telco, St. Joseph's cathedral in Golmuri had a midnight mass and a morning mass, the St. Mary's Church In Bistupur had three prayer services, one at midnight. On the other Baptist and other well-known churches-- Beldih church, Emanuel Baptist Church, St. George Church had their mass prayer service in the morning. There are total 29 churches in the city out of which seven are Roman Catholic churches.
‘lord Jesus identifies with the downtrodden. He came into the world to teach us to love selflessly and to help us find a meaning to our worldly existence. We should try to find a meaning in everything we do. Christmas should not be limited to a selfish kind of celebration but must spread message of love and universal brotherhood in the society,” said Dominic D’souza, a social worker.