- Title: Easter goes virtual in Argentina as coronavirus locks down tradition
- Date: 10th April 2020
- Summary: IMAGE ON PRAYER CARD EMPTY CHURCH VARIOUS, PRIESTS SAYING MASS VARIOUS, PRIESTS WAVING GOOD-BYE TO PARISHIONERS WATCHING ONLINE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PARISH PRIEST AT "MADRE ADMIRABLE" CATHOLIC CHURCH, MARTIN GARCIA, SAYING: "Every time we offer our services as priests, our community is here. And, it hurts us as priests to see the empty church today. But, thanks to God and the technology we have now, we feel very close (to parishioners) because people want to follow along. And, in a way, we can interact with them through these channels and we can all pray. Because, in the church it's not just those who are present within the church, but also the families that follow along us and share with us. But, it's a big challenge to be able to do it like this." VARIOUS, INDIGENT PEOPLE SLEEPING IN STREET VARIOUS, PARISH PRIEST HELPING PEOPLE IN STREET
- Embargoed: 24th April 2020 16:46
- Keywords: Argentina Church Easter catholic coronavirus holy week mass online pandemic parish priest quarantine restricitions service streaming virtual
- Location: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
- City: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
- Country: Argentina
- Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA003C8WSK07
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Christians all over the world will be forced to adapt to the restrictions, quarantines and lockdowns put in place to halt the spread of the new coronavirus as they celebrate Holy Week and Easter this year.
The Catholic parish of 'Madre Admirable' in Buenos Aires, Argentina has taken the ban on public gatherings in stride and is tending to its flock virtually during the Easter holiday.
On Holy Thursday (April 09), three parish priests stood in front of rows of empty pews and addressed their parishioners through a webcam as they said mass for those following along at home.
"It hurts us as priests to see the empty church today," said Martin Garcia, a priest at 'Maria Admirable' after mass. "But, thanks to God and the technology we have now, we feel very close (to parishioners) because people want to follow along. And, in a way, we can interact with them through these channels and we can all pray," he added.
Argentina's government announced a mandatory national lockdown on March 20 except for essential services like food shopping or medical care.
According to local media, Argentina has had 1,894 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus as of Friday (April 10) which have resulted in 81 deaths.
(Production: Miguel Lo Bianco, Horacio Soria) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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