TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Cathedral Church public relations official, Susyana Suwadie, predicted around a total of 13,000 people will attend the Christmas mass on Tuesday, December 24. The mass was held three times today, at 16:30, at 19:30, and at 22:00 Jakarta time.

"Around 5,000 congregations will attend each session. But maybe [the number of attendance is] smaller at 22:00 session,” she said Susyana.

The church can accommodate a total of 9,000 people inside and at its yard. Susyana said that the management also placed the additional 4,000 chairs at the churchyard to anticipate the people coming for the mass service.

Based on Tempo's observation, hundreds of people starting to flock the Jakarta Cathedral since 14:00 through gate 1 in front of the Istiqlal Mosque. The congregation must pass the metal detector to enter; their belongings were also being checked.

Some 300 joint personnel from the military (TNI) and the Police guarding around the area. Tempo also saw the Police's barracuda tank and Gegana bomb disposal squad car parking in the location.

On the Christmas Day tomorrow, December 25, the Cathedral Church will hold four masses at 07:00, 09:00, 11:00, and at 17:00. The attendees can park their vehicles at the church parking lot, Istiqlal Mosque, Santa Ursula School, and Post Office.

Adam Prireza