Catholics attend mass to pray for Covid-19 victims in HCMC

The mass was held at Nhan Hoa Church in Tan Phu District.
Parish priest Vu Dinh Thai said the mass is a special one held in response to Ho Chi Minh City's memorial service for Covid-19 victims.

Many parishioners showed up almost one hour before the mass to pray. They sat away from each other to ensure social distancing.

The mass started at 9:30 a.m.

Purple was the main color during the mass. In Catholic belief, purple reflects sorrow and suffering.

Attendants offer burning incense to commemorate all those that have lost their lives to Covid-19.
Vietnam has recorded more than 23,400 Covid-19 fatalities, including more than 17,100 in HCMC. Most had died during the latest wave that hit the country in late April.

The Eucharist ritual is the most important part of the Catholic mass when the priest blesses the bread and wine and the congregation is invited to receive Christ in Holy Communion.

Members of the choir and two nuns make the sign of the cross.

Tran Tu Oanh wipe her tears during mass.
"My brother-in-law died of Covid-19. I pray the Lord to bless his soul," she said.

Nguyen Thi Lien, 24, could not hold back her tears during the mass. Her mother, 46, had died of Covid-19 two weeks ago.
"My family has four members and my little sister was the only one that did not get infected. My mother was in the ICU for almost a month but in the end, she could not make it," she said.

Parishioners receive Holy Communion.

Nhan Hoa Church seen from outside. HCMC churches and pagodas will ring their bells and ships sound their horns at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
A requiem for those who died from Covid-19 would begin at the same time at the Independence Palace. Public areas across the city will turn off electric lights and burn candles at 8:30 p.m.