To celebrate the birth of Jesus, Nicolas Risso, parish priest who officiates, among other bell towers, in the village of Sainte-Fortunade (Corrèze), will wear a cap.
“It was offered to me by the superior of a monastery in Egypt,” said the 53-year-old abbot.
If he has planned this “liturgical” head covering as he says, it is because he will be celebrating midnight mass this Thursday, or rather at 7 pm, not in the church, but right next to it. , outdoors, in the castle park.
“It's not Siberia, but it can be cold here,” he smiles.
Due to the pandemic and the health restrictions which considerably limit the reception capacities of the buildings (two free chairs between each person or family entity and every other row), many parishes in France are adapting.
"We will do everything to allow the faithful to share, without fear, the joy of Christmas and help them come out of the torpor," enthuses Father Nicolas.
The Marcel-Cerdan sports center in Levallois, home of the Metropolitans basketball club, will host two offices. / Ville de Levallois
By respecting the rules of social distancing, some 350 believers will be able to receive communion on municipal land, as much as usual that evening inside the church.
The altar will take the air for an evening, sheltered, like the crib, in a tent.
Braziers will warm frozen hearts and feet.
"And at the end, we will serve a mulled wine," he promises.
Retirees called in as reinforcements
Not all clerics have a park within easy reach of the nave.
So as not to leave anyone on the square, Father Cyprien will say three masses in the suburbs of Toulouse (Haute-Garonne) this Thursday, at 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. instead of one in ordinary time.
This spiritual marathon hardly frightens him, especially since he has just taken “three days of rest” to recharge his batteries.
“I am happy to do it for the faithful, it is a time of grace.
Faith is an underlying renewable energy ”, preaches the one who is also a Bible teacher.
His commitment to the service of God is a passion.
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"There is no schedule, we work when people need us, there is no superhuman effort," he emphasizes.
However, he knows how to spare himself.
On the menu, no New Years Eve until the end of the night.
Because Friday morning from 8 am, he will again face the altar.
Many of his colleagues, especially those in cities, will also multiply the ceremonies, at the work of 4 pm.
In the diocese of Toulouse, retired priests have been called in for the occasion.
online booking
In order to better regulate flows and anticipate the high attendance at certain masses on December 24, parishes have opted for a reservation system by phone but also online inviting the flocks to register in advance from an application that lists the number of places still available.
Offices in the early evening are already full.
Masses from midnight to midnight have become rare, even more in the current health context even if, for this New Year's Eve, the curfew is put on hold.
Other ecclesiastics were able to relocate their masses to a larger space in order to be able to welcome more faithful.
Two services are, for example, scheduled this Thursday on the floor of the Marcel-Cerdan sports center in Levallois (Hauts-de-Seine), den of basketball and… hymns.
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