Midnight masses to continue on Christmas Eve despite curfew extension

DAYTON — The tradition of holding midnight mass on Christmas Eve is thousands of years old and will proceed even as the state-wide curfew is extended until Jan. 2.

According the the Ohio Department of Health, Gov. DeWine’s 10 p.m. curfew order excludes religious gatherings.

During a normal year, churches would be full of people for midnight mass.

>> Gov. DeWine extends curfew, retail mask enforcement until Jan. 2

“People from all over the city flock to those churches that have that midnight mass,” said Satish Joseph, pastor of Immaculate Conception and St. Helen parishes in Dayton.

Pastor Satish said his parishes will be adding masses to allow more opportunities for parishioners to celebrate the holiday in a safe and socially distanced way. He’s asking other churches and their administrations to do the same.

“I’m appealing to all pastors, churches and administrators, to try not to pack people in for the Christmas season,” said Pastor Satish. “Because I don’t want churches to be the place where in life, we’re spreading death.”

Cox Media Group