Venezuelans find joy in live

While most of churches in Venezuela have been closed for seven months due to lockdown, Catholic Priest Jonathan González has transformed his church parking lot into a drive-in for Mass celebrations.

From back doorsteps of Santuario Nuestra Señora de Coromoto (Sanctuary of Our Ly of Coromoto) in middle class neighborhood of El Paraíso, in west of capital, González, along with or priests, hold Mass services every fifteen days.

On Sunday, dozens of parishioners listened and participated in ceremony from comfort of ir cars.

hering to coronavirus restrictions, priests perform ceremony and approach cars only to deliver host in hand of parishioners during communion.

Sofia Alcalá said attending Mass with her elderly mor was a true joy, as she was able to participate in person after months of being in confinement due to lockdown.

"It is an opportunity that God is giving us because we h more than six months that we could t go to a Mass in person, '' she said.

After first cases of COVID-19 were reported in mid-March, authorities imposed a lockdown and ordered suspension of garings in religious temples and or public events to prevent spre of new coronavirus.

In Venezuela re have been 89,142 infections and 770 deaths caused by coronavirus according to Johns Hopkins University, which collates tallies from around world.

government recently anunced that it is considering a possible reopening of religious temples as part of a process of relaxing measures, since re has been a reduction in infections reported in recent weeks.

González, a 43-year-old priest, said people must sign up online ahe of time for 30 spots available for vehicles during service.

With more than 15 "drive-in masses" celebrated since August, he said his church is a pioneer of initiative in Venezuela, a mostly Catholic country.

Or countries such as France, Colombia and Paraguay, Catholic religion have also resorted to "drive-in masses."