Paris' Notre Dame rector offers hope to virus-hit worshipers

PARIS (AP) — Worshipers in face masks filed into Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois Church across from the Louvre Museum on Friday for Christmas Eve Mass, and were greeted by the rector of the closed Notre Dame Cathedral.

It was the second year that holiday service are being held under the shadow of the coronavirus.

Everyone was masked and members of the congregation sprayed people's hands with disinfectant as they entered. Children in the choir sang while masked and spaced out across the podium. They had to produce negative coronavirus tests to participate.

“We have very strict rules in place,” said Monsignor Patrick Chauvet, who is rector of Notre Dame, which has been closed since a devastating fire nearly three years ago. “The communion wafer is placed into worshipers’ hands and there is no kiss of peace. There is no contact whatsoever.”

Chauvet has been leading the congregation at Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois while the cathedral is being repaired.

In the lead-up to Christmas, France has recorded its highest-yet number of daily coronavirus infections while hospitalizations for COVID-19 have been rising. But the government has held off on imposing curfews, closures or other restrictions for the festivities.

Maria Valdes, a dual Mexican-French citizen at Mass, said she was resigned to the restrictions of the pandemic. She has gotten used to the ever-changing rules and regulations in her private and public life.

“As far am I’m concerned, we have to live because this is a virus that isn’t just going to go away," Valdes said. "Respect the rules, but we have to live.”

Chauvet said before celebrating the Mass that much as the fire ravaged Notre Dame, the pandemic has devastated communities, whole towns and families. The lockdowns and isolation have left people disoriented, tired and...