KUWAIT: Christian worshippers attend a Christmas mass at the National Evangelical Church in Kuwait City on Christmas Eve. - Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

By Ben Garcia

KUWAIT: Christians all over the world including Kuwait celebrated Christmas for the second year in the shadow of the coronavirus, and this year its new Omicron variant. The Holy Family Cathedral Church in Kuwait City celebrated Christmas Mass with strict health protocols, requiring everyone to wear masks at all times, although churches and mosques in Kuwait are no longer required to observe social distancing.

Kuwait has recently registered an increase in the number of daily coronavirus cases, from less than 20 daily to more than 100 a day. Father Monching Atanacio encouraged everyone to strictly follow the protocols of the health ministry as the threat of Omicron is still alive and stealing people’s happiness. “The nine consecutive days of dawn Christmas Masses (for Filipinos) are in preparation for the joy we are anticipating today, the birth of our savior. I pray God will grant all your heart’s desires,” he said.

Meanwhile, at the Life Connection Church, a branch of the Evangelical Church in Kuwait, the message was also about restoring joy this Christmas. Bishop Tim Dailey, a senior pastor who preached from the US virtually to live audiences in Kuwait, said the wonder of new technology today means they can reach out to people in faraway places.

“Happiness is external, but joy is internal, and it comes with our relationship with the Lord,” he said. “Happiness is by chance, but joy is a choice. Even amidst the pandemic, we can have joy. But you have to protect yourself so that your joy will not be stolen,” he added.

The National Evangelical Church and the Holy Family Cathedral are two of the biggest Christian denominations in Kuwait, both located in the heart of Kuwait City. There are other Christian churches in Kuwait too, such as the Coptic and Orthodox churches, but they celebrate Christmas on January 7.