By VENUAS HONORE-GOPIE Thursday, December 31 2009

THE high crime spate is not deterring churchgoers who want to spend the last hours of 2009 in prayer as officials from several Roman Catholic churches yesterday indicated there will be the traditional old year’s night Mass.

Some churches will be facilitating members of their congregation to spend time with their families after an early night service while other churches will continue the traditional late night mass.

Dean Colin Sampson of the Holy Trinity Cathedral said a number of people like to greet the New Year at church in prayer. He said many found the11 pm mass attractive and he does not want to deny the faithful their right to attend late night service.

Monsignor Cuthbert Alexander, Vicar at the Port-of-Spain Archdiocese said that at some churches mass will he held at six and seven o’clock in the evening while at other churches, mass will be held at 10 pm or 11 pm.

Father Clyde Harvey of the Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church at the corner of Park and Henry Streets in Port-of-Spain says while his church has maintained the traditional midnight mass, he is aware of the threat of the criminal element.

He said the tradition of Old Year’s night mass was important and did not think it should be pushed aside, since “true religion is never about our human convenience.” Harvey said the day religion made people feel comfortable, is the day it will no longer be the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He said mass tonight at his church will start at 11 o’clock. “Although we may face challenges we should make an act of trust in God,” he said.

A representative at the Mt St Benedict Church said they are also looking forward to mass which starts at 11.15 pm.

Apostle Vernon Duncan, of the Divine Encounter Fellowship church on Ragoo Road in D’Abadie said that for the last four years service at his church has started at 7 pm and ended three hours later.

Pastor Jerome Rampersad of the Santa Rosa Bible Church in Arima will also be starting his service at 8 pm and it will end at 10 pm.